Mary DeMuth on Parenting
Mary DeMuth has a new book out titled Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture. In it she draws on her experience living in France (“a hotbed of hyper-postmodernity”) as well as interviews with folks like my SPS sister, Erin Teske, to help North American parents raise our kids. Here are some of her tips for how we can help our children prepare for the world outside our door:
. Become a conversational parent. Talk to your kids. Listen. Share your story.
. Dare to believe that God has much to teach you through your kids. Be humble enough to learn from them.
. Create a haven for your kids, an oasis in your home that protects, supports, and gives kids space to be themselves.
. Take seriously the mandate that you are responsible for the soul-nurturing of your children.
. Teach your children to joyfully engage their world, while holding tightly to Jesus’ hand.
. Teaching this comes primarily from modeling it in your own life. Do you engage your neighbors? Are you more interested in God’s kingdom than your own?
. Admit your failures openly with your children, showing how much you need Jesus to live your daily life.
Here’s a quote from Mary’s book that I especially appreciated: "Coaching is different from showing or directing. A coach simply helps someone who wants to change to effect such a change. Instead of pointing out how a person needs to change, a coach listens to what the person wants to change. The person being coached is the initiator. The coach, then, helps the person latch onto a goal and develop steps or strategies to reach that goal. A coach is a cheerleader, but he does not do the hard work for the person being coached. He facilitates, listens, asks great questions, and places the responsibility for life change on the shoulders of the one being coached. …Since coaching is primarily based on how each child wants to grow, it requires a shift in a parent’s thinking. I no longer strongly suggest my daughter practice her violin. Instead, I ask my daughter what she wants to accomplish as a violinist, asking what steps she would like to take to get there and encouraging her as she tries to reach her goals." You can catch Mary's virtual book tour this week at these sites: A Cup of Cold Water
Be a Barnabas
Dawn Morton Nelson
Deborah Gaypong
Dobsons 411
Eleanor Joyce
Good Word Editing
Preacher’s Daughter
Sky-High View
Spaghettipie
The law, books and life
The Master’s Artist
The Surrendered Scribe
ThroughMyWindowAnd you can buy an autographed copy from Mary herself.