Guard your child's heart
About This Episode
Boundaries are important in relationships and in life. Setting boundaries for your children helps guard their heart and helps keep them safe. Tune in to this week’s The Struggle is Real parenting podcast and listen as our panel shares insights on how to guard your child’s heart.
Featuring
Additional Info
RECAP
When you guard your child’s heart, you set up healthy boundaries in the home that prevent harmful societal “toxins” from entering their lives. Boundaries should also prevent the private parts of their lives from being broadcast before the world. In order to help your child internalize those boundaries and make them a part of his or her own value system, you need to engage your child in sincere, empathetic conversation and be emotionally present when they need you.
CONVERSATION
What types of fears prevent you from having difficult conversations with your children about values? What can you do to overcome those fears?
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
Regardless of how well you parent, your child will inevitably cross an established boundary. Reacting to this situation out of a place of empathy and understanding as opposed to fear or anger, can make all the difference in the world. This week, take a moment to recognize when you’re going into “fear mode” and take the necessary steps to calm yourself down before addressing the situation with your child. Here are a few things you can try:
- Take a deep breath; notice your surroundings, your breathing, and the sensations going on around you.
- Write down what you’re feeling in a journal
- Take time to meditate or pray
- Go for a run or engage in some other kind of physical activity
- Listen to relaxing music or an interesting podcast
- Talk to a trusted friend or loved one
- Take a warm bath
- Read a book
TOOLS
The following tools can help you along the way.
How to Discipline Our Children With Love (Instead of Frustration)
The Struggle is Real podcast is based off the book, The Struggle is Real: Parenting in the 21st Century written by Dr. Alicia La Hoz & Dr. Paul Meier.
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