“I’ve made a point of getting off work early whenever possible to attend of my son’s Little League farm games. He’s made such great strides this season. It’s
fun to watch him in action. He always looks my way after a big play.”
It doesn’t always feel that way, but your son or daughter needs you.
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“Six months ago, my daughter was a princess. Now, she’s the Wicked Witch of the West. I can’t believe how defiant she’s
become. Nobody warned me this was going to happen.”
“I can’t believe how much my son has grown this summer.
He must have grown four inches! I still blink when he walks into the
room. I feel I hardly know him anymore.”
It doesn’t always feel that way, but your son or daughter needs you. The role of fathers is particularly important, says psychologist Dr. James Dobson, author of the best-selling book Bringing Up Boys.
Sadly, many forces in our culture seek to drive parents and children apart.
We need to take action on three fronts:
1. We need to protect the emotional
health of our children. This requires staying close to them emotionally and not creating negative emotional pressures within our family. Whenever we engage in self-destructive behaviors, we’re also hurting our children — whether they say anything or not.
2. As vigilant guides, we need to use the power of modeling to influence our children for good. Make no mistake: When our “walk” matches our “talk,” our children pay close attention.
3. We need to also convey specific
rules in the context of a loving relationship. Our children respond best when we speak the truth in love.
