Parental Authority and Respect

Parental authority and respect are important in every home, and you and children deserve it even if you are a step parent or running a single parenting household .

There are many biblical principles that support teaching children (and teens) to respect and obey their parents…

The most eye opening verse appears in Ephesians 6: 1-3:

Parent/Child Relationships…

Kids may view things that their parents say or do to be restrictive. I know, “You’re just spoiling all of the fun.”

In most cases, a parent or step parent has the best interests of the child or teen at heart when telling them to do something, or not to do something. When a child or teen bluntly rejects parental authority, discipline is in order.

If you need help and insight into disciplining children and teens and developing parental authority with them, you might want to check out the articles and resources on discipline and corporal punishment . The following resources can help you to develop a relationship with your children in which parental authority is a given.

If you are parenting young children, you will benefit from Dr. Leman’s book, Have a New Kid Friday. If you would like to see a video clip with Dr. Leman read the book review on this book. It is really an amazing guide for raising and disciplining children, as well as creating a sense of parental authority.

Have a New Kid by Friday By Dr. Kevin Leman / Revell Anyone who has dealt with a strong-willed child knows how difficult it is to turn bad behavior around. But the popularity of TV programs like Supernanny and Nanny 911 shows that parents are ready to try anything to get their children to behave. Bestselling author and psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman is here to help with simple strategies any parent can carry out. This book shows you how to reverse negative behavior in your children . . . fast! With his signature wit and encouragement, Dr. Leman offers hope and real, practical, achievable strategies for regaining control and becoming the parent you always wanted to be.

If your kids are into or approaching adolescence Jane Bluestein’s book titled Parents, Teens & Boundaries: How to Draw the Line might be very helpful in addressing challenges and enforcing parental authority.

Parents, Teens & Boundaries: How to Draw the Line By Jane Bluestein / Health Communications How parents set boundaries with their teenagers is one of the most important aspects of the parent-child relationship. Unfortunately, this ability does not come automatically with parenthood. Here Jane Bluestein, a former teacher and counselor, looks at 20 relationship-building techniques all parents can use to set limits with their teens: Loving, Rspecting, Empowering, Negotiating, Supporting, Accepting, Communicating, Motivating, Acknowledging, Trusting and more. This practical strategies for boundary setting can teach parents how to avoid conflict, resolve problems and establish the foundation for mutual love and respect. As a result of learning to set healthy boundaries parents may even begin to enjoy their children's teen years.

If your teen seems unreachable or angry, it might be beneficial to read Angry Teens and the Parents Who Love Them by Sandy J. Austin.

Angry Teens and the Parents Who Love Them By Sandy Austin / Beacon Hill Press Is your teen mad at the world? Not angry enough to shoot heroin or shoot up the high school. Not angry enough to steal a car or take the principal hostage. Nonetheless, you're having trouble reaching her. Or he's beginning to exhibit some risky behaviors. You sense he or she is running with the wrong crowd. Maybe anger is masquerading as moodiness, withdrawal, loneliness, or shame. When and how should a caring parent intervene? From recognizing the faces, reasons, and roots of anger to addressing it and surviving it, the author shares tips and guidelines garnered from years of counseling kids and parents who were on a collision course but then turned their lives around. This book can be an important first step in an improved relationship with your teenager.

There is also a DVD series titled Parenting Your Teenager by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot that can be very helpful to parents raising teens and developing parental authority. It can also be used as curriculum for a small group Bible study .

Parenting Your Teenager: 4 DVDs By Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott / Bluefish TV Help your teenager overcome hurts, become less rebellious, and discover their true identity. Parenting Your Teenager equips moms and dads to recognize common patterns, plan effective strategies, and build character. Perfect for a church class or seminar, the 4-DVD set features relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott. And, in 24 gut-level interviews, parents and teens talk openly about rebellion, conflict, pain, and identity. Plus, there's a candid chat with singer Steven Curtis Chapman about faith and family. Includes 4 DVDS. 6-session leader's guide and student workbooks available for purchase seperately.

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To get help with single parenting

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