Common Myths in Parenting

We have recently started our Empowered to Connect Parent Training classes and I was reviewing some of the material in preparation for one of our classes. One resource that we use in the class is a book entitled "Parenting Is Your Highest Calling: And 8 Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt."

In this book Leslie Leyland Fields is refreshingly honest as she deals with nine myths that all of us as parents have thought but maybe never had the guts to say out loud. Here are few examples of the myths she discusses:

Myth 3: Parenting is your highest calling
Myth 4: Good parenting leads to happy children
Myth 5: If you find parenting difficult, you must not be following the right plan
Myth 8: Successful parents produce godly children

So if your view of parenting has trapped you in worry and guilt and you would like a little different perspective that will offer you some hope, check out this book.

You might be wondering if this book is only for adoptive and foster parents, and the answer to that is, "Absolutely Not." This book is for any parent with any age kids. I hope you enjoy.

"Our children learn less from the rules we outline or the programs we follow than from the lives we live before them." - Leslie Fields

I Hate Waiting!!

The other day I noticed something while I was driving... I hate waiting. I was trying to get to my kids' school and every stop light that I came to, between my home and their school, was red. Not only was every stop light red; but one light I came to was red, it then turned green, but turned back to red before I could get through. I would like to say that I handled this "little trial" with grace and patience, but that would be a stretch of the imagination.

I have been thinking about all the scenarios in my life when I am bothered because I have to wait and it made me think about all the kids in the United States who are waiting, waiting for a permanent family. According to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption there are 101,666 children waiting to be adopted in the United States.

I cannot imagine what it would be like to be one of these children. Waiting for a family. Waiting for someone to come along and choose them. Waiting for someone to call mom or dad. Wouldn't it be amazing if it were the other way around? If we had loving families who were the ones waiting in line instead of the children waiting in line for a family.

Orphan Sunday in November 8th. Is your church or community doing anything to bring awareness to the number of children who are in need of a family? Here is a link to see if there are any events planned in your area http://orphansunday.org/map/ If there is not an event planned in your area, get some friends together and plan your own event. It can be something as simple as gathering your friends together to pray for children, social workers, foster parents, etc., in your communities.

So the next time you find yourself annoyed because you are having to wait a whole three minutes for your popcorn to pop in the microwave, stop and ask yourself, "What can I do to help the waiting children in my community?"