I remember years ago my grandmother often reflecting, in frustration, “That’s what you get for having children.” She would often lament in such a way after some crazy thing that me or my sister did.

Well now is my time, and I will fully admit, it is very difficult. As the children grow they are capable of taking care of their physical needs, however their emotional or psychological needs grow. No where is this more evident than in the growth of my 7 year old daughter Starla.

She is at a point where emotions rule the day, and she is not easily swayed by other distractions. All of this at age 7, it may be a bumpy ride.

I’ve found that the best way to approach parenting is from a position of love. If my children know that they are loved, despite the fact that they are behaving poorly, they seem to be much more capable of understanding why they have erred. However, if I approach discipline from the perspective of anger, all bets are off as to how effective I will be, and I usually lose control of the situation. Today in frustration I told my daughter to “shut the hole in her face.” She sensed my anger, continued to say what she was saying, and immediately informed Mandy about my statement upon returning home. Now the wife and kids make fun of me, and I’ve lost a little bit of credibility with my daughter.

I guess the point I’m trying to make to myself is this: be calm, patient, loving, and firm with the kids.