Yesterday afternoon I caught the end of an interview with Sonya Curry, mom to Stephen Curry, NBA star. When the interviewer asked Sonya what she was most proud of as a mom, what she felt she’d really done right, her answer was “I dared to parent.”
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The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to appreciate her answer. It’s easy to not parent….to not correct, to let our children get away with disobedience, to not make them face consequences, or do chores, or learn responsibility.
Daring to parent means getting out of the chair I just sat down in to deal with misbehavior. It’s sitting up for a late night talk when I just want to fall into bed. It’s sticking to my guns when I’m told that “everyone else” gets to do it, but I know it’s not right for her. It’s working through yet another sibling argument or adjusting another bad attitude.
If I’m going to dare to parent, I can’t be lazy or self-absorbed or ignorant of what’s going on in my children’s lives. Our decisions aren’t always – or maybe even often – going to be popular with our children. But daring to parent means figuring out what God wants for our family, and following through.
Parenting is full of joy and blessings and fill-up-my-mama-heart moments, but it’s also a boatload of hard work. There are many times I want to choose the easy road – or at least what seems to be the easy road in the moment. But doing what’s best for my children – and thereby fulfilling the amazing calling God has given me – means daring to parent them well.
Dare to parent. I like that quote! It's like James Dobsons' Dare to Discipline. It is hard these days since it seems like so many people aren't. But it's worth it as we produce children that we actually like to be around. 😉
YEEESSSSS!!!! It's exhausting to feel like I'm *constantly* harping on Annelise's slobby messes or Will's STILL being on electronics, but it's my job! I won't give up!