Turning the Frantic Family into A Fulfilling Family
The other children will just follow the path the oldest child has worked so hard to clear. Erik always reminds Alex of how easy he made it for him.
It is always a difficult balance, but keep your eye on the adult you want them to become.
When you have children they quickly learn about you, often a child knows you better than you know yourself. You may not know what decision you will make, or your wife may not know, but your four year old probably will.
This is very annoying; it is why children can be such effective brats. They know exactly how drive you over the edge.
An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?"
The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in an out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'"
I do not profess to know much about being a parent, but
I do know that if you love your children they will love you.
If they love you someday they will forgive you even if you screw up.
A good thing to remember as your children find more and more ways to embarrass you as their parents, someday as their parents you will be able to use these same stories to embarrass them in front of their friends from college.
Nancy and I went to a parenting class at our church when Erik was less than one.