Should you train your kids to obey right away?

That’s the question and that’s the topic I’m discussing in today’s episode. 

A sweet friend of mine asked this question a year ago and I answered her in a Facebook Live.  She asked this:

“I was at a parenting conference this weekend.  The person leading the workshop told us that it was our job as parents to teach our children to obey right away.  He said we needed to expect this of our kids because that’s how we train our children to listen to and obey the Holy Spirit.   This didn’t sit well with me.  What do you think?”

Well, as you can imagine, I had lots to say about it.  I remember hearing this from dear friends as we parented our kids in the earlier years.

Ultimately, if it was ever possible for any of us to obey right away we would not need Jesus. All throughout the Old Testament we see the Israelites desperately trying to obey all the laws.  To obey right away and yet they never could.  They failed miserably over and over again. 

And in God’s ultimate wisdom, provision and love, He chose to send His Son to live the perfect life for us because we will never be able to do so on our own.  Friends, we can never do it perfectly.  We are considered righteous because of Christ’s work and not our own.  

So where does this idea of obey right away come from and how do we discipline our kids well?

I discuss this concept deeply in my book Behind the Behavior as well as in my online course Barely Surviving To Outright Thriving.  

If you’re Christian mom who has struggled with an overwhelming sense of guilt when your child continually displays challenging behaviors, this is the episode for you.   

Listen in.  And be encouraged and equipped.  Don’t forget to subscribe and write a review if you found this helpful.   Shoot me an email at [email protected]  Would love to hear your thoughts.   In this together!