I just wanted to put some ideas out there that have helped us form our children in the spiritual direction we want them to go. They are 6 and 3 right now, and while I have no control on how they ultimately end up, I’m going to try my best to influence and point them to Jesus. There are some of these practices that I’m good at and some I’m not good at in terms of consistency.
The first parenting practice I wanted to share is a nightly mantra I do with my kids at night. It’s fairly simple and straight forward. I do this because I want them to speak well of themselves, something I personally struggle a lot with. I want them to know these truths deep in their bones, that’s why we say them nightly.
So, here it is:
Me: “You are kind” kid: “I am kind”
Me: “You are special” kid: “I am special”
Me: “You are brave” kid: “I am brave”
Me: “You are strong” kid: “I am strong”
Me: “You are handsome/beautiful (depending on which kid)” kid: “I am handsome/beautiful”
Me: “You are smart” kid: “I am smart”
Me: “You are loved” kid: “I am loved”
Me: “When you do good things.” kid: “When I do good things”
Me: “And when you do bad things” kid: “And when I do bad things”
Me: “Daddy loves you” kid: “Daddy loves me”
Me: “Great big as the world” kid: “Great big as the world”
Me: “Mama loves you” kid: “Mama loves me”
Me: “Great big as the world” kid: “Great big as the world”
Me: “God loves you” kid: “God loves me”
Me: “Great big as the universe” kid: “Great big as the universe”
These are truths I want them to wrap their heads around. My son unfortunately already has a hard time with beating himself up like I do. Obviously I don’t do that in front of him but nevertheless he struggles with it like I do. And so, the only thing I know to do for him is to pray for him and to teach him this mantra.
I always follow up the mantra with a prayer. It’s usually a simple prayer that they repeat after me. I usually have them pray for something themselves as part of it, but sometimes they’re too tired to think of anything. I struggle with the same thing in my own walk with God.
I pray this serves them well as they get older. When self-doubt creeps in like it does for everyone, I hope they can fall back on these truths I’m teaching them now.
Dadvice 