Talking Points:
- We do our children a disservice when we lay aside our roles as parents and try to be friends instead. It’s our job to discipline our children, so here are three C’s to help you parent with purpose.
- Be clear. Make sure that you set expectations for your teens and be sure to clearly communicate those to them.
- Be consistent. Discipline is ineffective if you apply consequences some times but not all times.
- Be corrective. The consequence needs to make an impact on your teen so they’re motivated to avoid the same mistake in the future.
Discussion:
- Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
- What was your behavior like as a teen? What similarities do you see between your teen and yourself at their age?
- What were some of the boundaries your parents set when you were a teenager? Would you say that you discipline your teen in the same way your parents disciplined you? In what ways are you different?
- Read Proverbs 22:15. What are some of the foolish things you see in your teens right now? How can discipline help to correct those?
- Read Hebrews 12:11. What can happen if you don’t discipline your teens? In what ways do we do our children a disservice when we try to be their friend instead of their parent?
- Do you and your spouse always agree on how to parent and discipline? What do you do when you disagree? How would establishing boundaries help you compromise and co-parent better?
- Give yourself a grade: how are you when it comes to being clear? Why do you grade yourself this way?
- Give yourself a grade: how are you when it comes to being consistent? Why do you grade yourself this way?
- Give yourself a grade: how are you when it comes to being corrective? Why do you grade yourself this way?
- Read Proverbs 19:18. What does it mean to “discipline while there is hope?” How can failure to discipline your kid derail their future?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
