Ask Mom

Is there something of a spiritual nature going on in you life? Need an outside, unbiased, honest opinion?  Contact ME
                     

 I've raised 5 children and been married for almost 20 years. Any questions are welcome. Just like with my kids, I will give you honest feedback.



Dear Mom,

Help! Am I being too hard on my kids?

Here’s what happened:

On Monday I grounded my daughter Sarah (age 11) from all electronics for two days because she didn’t do what I said: Instead of getting ready for soccer she played on her guitar which made both her and her sister late for practice.

Thursday Sarah gave me a permission form a choir performance at the Saint Luke’s Children’s Hospital on Saturday. I signed the sheet and asked her to keep the upper portion for me so that I would know where to go.

Saturday rolled around. Sarah had a early soccer game. When we returned home she began getting ready for the choir recital. I asked her for the form. She asked, “Can’t you call Mackenzie's mom and find out where to go?”

“Sarah, I told you to keep the top portion of that sheet for me.” I replied, “If you don’t have it, then you will miss the performance.”

Sarah panicked. She dug through all the papers in her backpack – no form. Again she pleaded, “I know I kept it... Can’t you just call Mac’s mom?”

“No, I can’t. You must learn to do what you are told. If you don’t have the information, you won’t be going to sing with your choir.”

Sarah eventually found the paper and we barely made it to the performance on time. My husband, Tony, was supportive of my actions... but was this too harsh? It is Christmas and this is a very special thing Sarah wanted to do...

Thanks!

Lynn,

As parents it is sometimes hard to discipline. The discipline should always be used as a way to teach our children. As our children grow they need to learn how to be responsible. Responsibilities should start out being easy when they are young. As they get older the responsibilities will be more important. Some people are just naturally more responsible, they are the easy kids to teach. The discipline should match the importance or the lack of co-operation by the child.

I think your discipline matched the need at the time and it did seem to work. She found her paper and saved herself. I would say good lesson teaching.

Keep reading the word and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Mom

Lynn Hardy is one of my five kids – one of my twins. In her book Angels Believe in You: The Journey that Led to Heaven and Back Again
she mentions much of the advice I have given her concerning her walk with God. She felt that others might have questions about God or other issues which I might be able to help with: Ask Mom was created for this purpose.