Poor James Dobson doesn't get much play on Discerning Reader, and that may not change anytime soon. But one passage from the first edition of The Strong-Willed Child affected me greatly when I first read it as a brand new parent, and still affects me today as a parent of two toddlers:
Ultimately, the key to competent parenthood is in being able to get behind the eyes of your child, seeing what he sees and feeling what he feels. When he is lonely, he needs your company. When he is defiant, he needs your help in controlling his impulses. When he is afraid, he needs the security of your embrace. When he is curious, he needs your patient instruction. When he is happy, he needs to share his laughter and joy with those he loves.
Thus, the parent who intuitively comprehends his child's feelings is in a position to respond appropriately and meet the needs that are apparent. And at this point, raising healthy children becomes a highly developed art, requiring the greatest wisdom, patience, devotion and love that God has given to us. The Apostle Paul called the Christian life 'a reasonable service.' We parents would do well to apply that same standard to the behavior of our children.
Lord, help me to be a seeing-eye parent.
