He thought he was alone in the room. He knew he shouldn’t do it. But temptation won over restraint, and my 2 year-old reached for the forbidden vase.
“Danny!” I said firmly. He jumped as though jolted by electricity, then swiveled his head wildly, looking for me. How can she be everywhere at once?
Unbeknownst to him, I had been watching him through a little open window from our kitchen as he played in the family room. Close supervision is a requirement for parents.
So is training in obedience.
Kids don’t come into this world knowing what best for them. They need to be protected while they explore this big, fascinating world. They also need help in learning what is right and what is wrong. Children aren’t born with a working conscience; they need the establishment of rules and consistent discipline to develop a strong inner compass.
This is why, used correctly, the word “no” is one of the most positive words a parent can speak. No keeps a child safe from harm. No teaches respect for other people and the things they own. No enforces the truth: Life is not about you.
As a parent, our job is to be fully present with our children. Yes, we get tired. Yes, we make mistakes. But if we understand our mission and how critical it is, we will be intentional in shaping the conscience of our children. It’s to their great benefit. It’s also very rewarding for the parent.
It was good for Danny to feel as though his mother was omnipresent, that the rules were clear, and that he could get caught at any time for a misdeed. Many moments just like that one shaped his thinking, his behavior, and the quality of man he is today.
Plus my vase didn’t get broken.
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