In Your Face Parenting

I read this article from Matt Walsh on parenting. His article on the very specific nature of each child, and each parent in their very individualized situation hit home with me. Every child is different and every parent is different at many different periods of their lives. His calculations said that each parent has raised approximately 0.000000001 percent of the children of the world and their experience does not give them the right to tell anyone else how to parent. I have heard tales of this and I'm sad to say that I have probably been too pushy myself with parenting advice. (I try really hard not to give it unless asked though.)

Recently, I heard a shocking story of a grandmother who was verbally scolded by a complete stranger for feeding her grandchild a bottle of pumped breast milk (from the child's own mother). Who does this woman think she is, to walk up to a complete stranger, a woman older than she, and say, "Shame on you for not nursing your baby!'? How many times do we ourselves jump to conclusions about someone else's parenting?

Walsh makes the argument that the only rule in parenting is to love your children.  I totally agree, but that love must be grounded in Scripture, otherwise, it could get mislead. Love without wisdom, discernment and discipline is dangerous. 

Here are just a few scriptures about other things that our children really need.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

Joel 1:3  Tell your children of it,and let your children tell their children,and their children to another generation.

Proverbs 13:4 Whoever spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.