| Louise and I love parenting because we love our children. We haven’t always been pleased with the things our children have done or the choices they have made, but we have always loved them. To keep our love for them above all else, the focus of our affection needs to be on them, not on their foibles. Our children have achieved considerable success in life for which we are happy. But this is not why we love them. We love them not because of <em>what</em> they have accomplished materially or socially, but because of <em>who</em> they are: our heaven sent children. Don’t ever forget, Mom and Dad, that your children came to you, as gifts from God. Think about it! When you look at your children, think of them as objects of your love, not the object of your pride or displeasure. | |
| Unchanged: Babies, infants, and little children are easy to love. They seem to appreciate their parents’ love. They want to be near their parents. They raise their hands and lovingly appeal: “Hold me.” They spontaneously hug and kiss their parents. Their innocence makes them so attractive and desirable. Ask a child, “Do you love your Mommy/Daddy?” and almost without hesitation or exception they answer, “Yes.” | Unchanged: Babies, infants, and little children are easy to love. They seem to appreciate their parents’ love. They want to be near their parents. They raise their hands and lovingly appeal: “Hold me.” They spontaneously hug and kiss their parents. Their innocence makes them so attractive and desirable. Ask a child, “Do you love your Mommy/Daddy?” and almost without hesitation or exception they answer, “Yes.” |
| Unchanged: Loving adolescent children is sometimes more difficult. They tend to see their parents as resources rather than objects of love and affection, They are often embarrassed even to be seen with their parents. They frequently describe their parents as “weird.” Ask teenagers, “Do you love your parents?” and they will typically answer, “Well, yes, but . . . “The beginnings of qualified love emerge day to day. Teenagers look less and less like heaven-sent gifts and more and more like life’s greatest challenges. | Unchanged: Loving adolescent children is sometimes more difficult. They tend to see their parents as resources rather than objects of love and affection, They are often embarrassed even to be seen with their parents. They frequently describe their parents as “weird.” Ask teenagers, “Do you love your parents?” and they will typically answer, “Well, yes, but . . . “The beginnings of qualified love emerge day to day. Teenagers look less and less like heaven-sent gifts and more and more like life’s greatest challenges. |
| Unchanged: Ask parents if they love their little ones, and they will quickly answer, “Yes, but . . .” or “Yes, because . . .” There seems to be a need to explain one’s love. In any event we must love our children. That is our first responsibility. We could never question God’s unqualified love for all of his children, regardless of how old they are or how they behave. We needn’t wonder, therefore, how our Heavenly Father expects us to respond to our children, no matter how old they are or how they behave. President Hinkley clearly instructed on this matter: “You parents, love your children. Cherish them. They are so precious. They are so very, very important” (<em>Ensign, </em>November 1995, 51-2). | Unchanged: Ask parents if they love their little ones, and they will quickly answer, “Yes, but . . .” or “Yes, because . . .” There seems to be a need to explain one’s love. In any event we must love our children. That is our first responsibility. We could never question God’s unqualified love for all of his children, regardless of how old they are or how they behave. We needn’t wonder, therefore, how our Heavenly Father expects us to respond to our children, no matter how old they are or how they behave. President Hinkley clearly instructed on this matter: “You parents, love your children. Cherish them. They are so precious. They are so very, very important” (<em>Ensign, </em>November 1995, 51-2). |
Hi I’m Kent
I am married and we have 3 children and many grandchildren. Our children have chosen wisely in their careers and in marriage and I attribute much of their success, as they do, to a close relationship with Jesus Christ… Click for more.