“As parents, our whole job is to facilitate, to protect, and to love our children. It’s not to tell them what to be or how to live.” – Person who is the primary influencer of some young humans.

LOL!

These are the words of someone who hasn’t spent any time around children. You formed your philosophy of parenting by watching children on television or in movies. Maybe you’ve seen some pictures of kids. You think children are chock full of innocence, virtue, and goodness when they’re born. You have forgotten that you were an awful child.

You yelled and cried when you didn’t get whatever you wanted. You cried some more when you weren’t satisfied after getting what you wanted. You lied. You bullied other kids. You took stuff that belonged to other people without asking permission. And you were furious with your parents almost every day because…wait for it…this is a delicious irony that you’re going to love…really…it’s going to make you laugh…you were furious with your parents when they told you how to live!

Your parents were wiser than you. They knew that if they didn’t tell you how to live, you would grow from an insufferable child into an insufferable adult. Your parents knew that in order to protect and love you; they would need to oppose you. Your folks didn’t stand by while you ‘discovered who you are’ because they already KNEW you. They understood that you were a rotten, selfish, lawless, sinner. They knew you wouldn’t figure this out all by yourself because you were also stupid.

And apparently, you’re still pretty stupid. Your role as ‘facilitator’ will end the first time your kid removes her diaper and poops between the couch cushions. Instead of lecturing me about how to parent, just go be a parent. Tell your kids what to be and how to live because right now, they’re terrible. If they’re still terrible in 18 years, that’s your fault.

“The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.”

(Proverbs 30:15)