What's Worked For Us

So many of you who read this are families in the process of adopting. I know that while I was waiting I was eager for families who had their kids home to share about things they did that worked (or didn't work). Not because all situations are the same but because I really believe in having a tool box full of tricks that you can use if needed. So while I won't pretend that we have have it all together (or even that we know what we're doing), I will share with you some of the things that have worked for us as we have transitioned Kenson into our home.

I would say we generally parent from a perspective that believes the following about discipline and children:
-discipline is not the same as punishment
-discipline is an opportunity for learning and it may involve consequences
-discipline really should occur ever day, not in a punitive way but in a teaching way
-often the natural consequences of behavior are enough to reinforce or change behavior; if they are not, parents have a duty to creatively match positive and negative consequences to behavior
-children learn God's character by what they see modeled in their parents
-common sense goes a long way
-parent in ways that you want to be parenting in five years from now

We also are trying to parent with Gal. 5:22-23 as a core verse for our family. We believe that by using the Fruit of the Spirit as we parent it will anchor our family in what God desires for us.