“Parenting is a tough job. Advice is easy. So is critique.”

A thought by Larry Osborne, (2009-04-04) from his book, Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe (p. 52). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

It really is. My dad said that advice not asked for stinks. And that is true. It is so easy to give advice especially if you don’t have any experience, have you noticed that? But Proverbs also says that there is safety in many counselors. And that is good advice.

In following up on this thought Larry says, “But for those of us in the midst of the battle, it's not so simple. Things that sound easy in a seminar or Bible study are usually a lot more nuanced in real life… I'm reminded of the simple advice to keep my cool and never discipline my children in anger. Sounds good. Makes sense. But I, for one, could never figure out how to pull it off. What was I supposed to do? Wait until we were all having a good time— then bam!?”

He then goes on, “Rather than preening in pride, casting harsh judgments, or wallowing in self-pity and unwarranted guilt, we simply need to cast aside the myth that produces these unsavory responses and live in light of the truth. As parents, we do have a sacred responsibility for how we raise our kids. But we have no ultimate control over how they turn out. Admittedly, there are plenty of Christian parents who have good reason to feel guilty. Hypocrisy, angry outbursts, inattention (or its mirror opposite, hyper control), poor marriages, and broken homes are all too common. The price for each is always high. But when godly parents do the best they can and yet fail to achieve the outcome they hope for, they need a break, not a drive-by ‘guilting.’ And when things go well, we need a lot more gratitude and a lot less pride. So, if you're a parent, give it your best shot— then go take a nap. And if you've already given it your best shot— take a long nap. You deserve it.”

Now that is very good advice. At least I think so.

What about you?

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