Scarlet Letter Optional

Train a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not part from it.
Proverbs 22:6

 

    Children do the strangest things. They put pop tarts in the mail box. They clean the bathroom mirror with shaving cream. They feed the cat the last can of tuna. They use laundry soap in the dishwasher. Parents work hard to teach their children what to do, and no matter what, the children just seem to do silly things anyway. It's enough to make a parent go mad. At the very least, it's enough to make a Christian parent wonder if she is having any effect on her children at all. Perhaps she believes her children aren't really capable of making the right choices independently.

    Chances are the children have not read Helpful Hints from Heloise or Chilton's Guide to Automobiles. So, when they do some of the crazy things they do, they are actually playing a game of pretend called "let's clean the house" or "time to fix the car." Whatever the age, children are on a learning curve. The younger they are, the sillier their endeavors seem. As they get older, some of their efforts begin to make more sense, except the results can be worse. What's a parent to do? Take pictures and don't forget to laugh.

    Christian parents have an investment in their children's faith and moral development. The behaviors that seem cute or amusing to non-religious parents can be alarming to Christians. They may even begin to feel guilty about their children's behavior. These parents sometimes become stern disciplinarians or lenient problem-solvers, stifling their children's initiative. So, before Christian parents start wearing scarlet letters on their sweaters, they might try not taking their children's behavior too seriously. As long as the parents model Christian behavior, attend church services, and teach their children about Christ, most children will turn out just fine. Here are a few suggestions to consider when faced with potentially troubling behavior:

• When the baby is crying so loud that the neighbor's dog starts howling, pick her up. You won't spoil her and you might get you a subscription to Dog World.
  
• When the 3 year old is feeding the baby cat food, exchange the Meow Mix for Cheerios. The baby won't know the difference anyway.
  
• When the 5 year old comes down stairs in your black stilettos, thank God he's not wearing your panties on his head. Chances are he won't develop a habit of wearing women's clothes, but he might not whine on your next trip to Payless.
  
• When the 9 year old comes home afterschool with the neighborhood juvenile delinquent, invite him in for a snack. There's no better way to get rid of that fruitcake Grandma sent for Christmas.
  
• When the 14 year old sends 15,593 text messages to her friends in one month, be glad she doesn't write letters. Stamps cost 48 cents.
  
• When the 18 year old decides he wants to marry the stewardess he met over Spring Break, express your ebullience over frequent flyer miles. Don't panic. He won't do anything that's guaranteed to make you happy.