halrunkel
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” (Colin Powell)
In our fast-food nation, many parents want me to tell them what to do in order to “fix their kid” in a hurry. And as frustrating as it may be to these well-meaning folks, I just won’t do that. There are no magic consequences or secret formulas I can give you to whip your kids into shape. Those quick fixes are manipulative and short lived.
True success in relationships is no different from what Powell describes above. Handling yourself well in the midst of conflict with your child will take a good amount of preparation before the heat of the moment ever arrives. Changing unwanted patterns will take a tremendous amount of hard work as you learn about yourself and your part in those patterns. And finally, your interactions with your kids didn’t get this way in one day; why should we expect them to change overnight?
Building great relationships simply takes a good deal of time and training. That’s a tough sell here in our culture that seeks the quick fix. However, it’s a truth that we must embrace if we are really serious about raising our kids to be the kinds of people who prepare, work hard, and learn from their own failure.
Peace begins with a pause,
Hal
