Raising Gentle Kids
raising kids series: part 4 of 5
Through this series on raising kids, I've talked about leading by example. I don't know about you, but being gentle in motherhood can be difficult. Some days you are mentally and physically drained and when something negative happens, it is easier to snap than calmly working through the situation.
So in this part of the series I'm gonna focus on us moms becoming gentle that in return our children may become gentle. I often look to more seasoned and mature women as a guide for this quality of gentleness. The type of women that I see at church who talk to my girls with the most gentle voices and can calm them in about five seconds flat. I want that! I want to have a soothing voice rather than a harsh one. I'm sure you do too. We want the best for our kids, and we want them to feel free to come to us knowing we are going to react in gentleness.
Often in this world gentleness, is associated with people who are weak and timid, but it's the very opposite of that. Gentleness is a beautiful attribute. It carries the ability to be reasonable. I don't know about you, but it sure can be difficult to be reasonable/gentle while children are throwing tantrums. This quality in parenting, or outside of parenthood, is really something you have to be intentional about, so let's get practical.
5 ways to become more gentle:
Listen
Not only is it wise for us to listen more often than we speak, it also allows us to have an opportunity to think through what we are about to say.
Walk Away
If you are ever heated in the moment and feel unable to be gentle, walk away.
Identify Triggers
Often when we are being harsh rather than gentle, it's due to having an underlying anger towards something else.
Slow Down
We live fast paced lives, going from one event to another. The more we have on our to do lists, the more stressed we get and that in turn gives us a hard heart.
Gratitude
Tell your child what you love about them, and what makes you thankful for them. The happier we become, the easier it is to produce gentleness.
