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I have to admit, before beginning this post, that my girls are not to Chapters 16 and 17. We are back towards the middle of the book, and dealing with behaviors suited toddlers than middle school…but I'm looking at this as good knowledge to have in my mind and heart as we continue to shepherd our girls into adulthood.
I totally agree with the “too many rules is not good” philosophy that Tripp states in Chapter 16. Both our girls are very strong willed and I could relate to the lack of sharing and lack of listening to others in authority; as we are in the midst of dealing with these now. We have learned in the past that while it is easy to simply set a *rule*…and then another rule…and before you know it you need a flow chart to keep up with all the rules! Simple discipline works best for us.
I also agree that it is so important to get to the heart of the issue, instead of just assuming that your child is acting out, or being *bad*. I have learned {sometimes the hard way!} that most of the time, if one of my girls is acting out there is a reason for her behavior. By taking the time to talk with her {not at her} we are able to work on her heart and help her to understand the boundaries of what is and is not acceptable behavior.
I like the idea of using Proverbs to teach Biblical wisdom as mentioned in Chapter 17. While originally I was thinking that the book of Proverbs is way above my girls minds, after a few days of mulling it over I believe that by breaking the verses down into small chunks applicable for their ages they will be able to understand what we are saying.
Before reading this book I never thought to assess my children's behavior and growth every six months. Now I can see the value in it! We give our children tests and assessments in school to see how they are learning and progressing with math, science, writing and reading – so why not asses their character and heart?
After reading Shepherding Your Child's Heart, I feel both overwhelmed at the task before me and more prepared to assist my girls as they grow and mature.
What are your thoughts on Chapter 16 and 17? Share your reflections and insights in the comments or link up a blog post.
