Are You The Parent You Want To Be?

Every parent parents. Every parent guides. Every parent loves. But, do we do it well? Do we do it with purpose and intention? Or do we just go the path of least resistance, put our parenting in cruise and just let days, weeks, years fly by with no specific goals? Do you know where you want to end up as a parent?

Michael and I, as you know have set out on a journey to set specific goals with our lives. We haven’t yet gone deep into our parenting goals, but have started to explore the territory. Tonight we listened to a teleseminar from Kent Julian called Parent it Forward. It was awesome and gave us a good kick in the butt to get our parenting goals clear and in order.

Here were four points that really stuck out to me from our seminar:

1. Give yourself a parental job description: In other words, what do you want your role to look like as a mother or father? Write it down. Be specific. Then you won’t get 15 years into parenting and think, “What am I doing, this isn’t the mom or dad I wanted to be!”

2. The myth of quality time: So many parents take life so fast that they are not spending healthy time with their children on a day to day basis. Then they say things like, “I am going to take Friday off and spend some good quality time with my kid.” Quality time is a byproduct of the quantity of time you spend with your kids. Doing life together opens up all kinds of doors for sharing your heart and hearing theirs.

3. Teach your children that event + response = outcome: Many people approach life from the standpoint of events only equal outcome. “Hero’s do not let events dictate outcome.” Kent Julian said. We get to choose how we respond to what happens to us in life. This is powerful.

4. You are the most influential person in your child’s life: Too often parents are fooled into thinking that peers or media will be most influential in a child’s life as they get older. These only win out by default if a parent takes a back seat in a teenager’s life.

So, we learned a ton and were reminded that parenting, just like any other “muscle” in life, has to be worked to reach it’s full potential. We are excited to learn more and experience more of this wonderful adventure!

Question: What parenting goals do you have?

Michael and Claudia Good

rise365.com

Tags: kids, parenting, raising

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Comment by Claudia Good on February 20, 2012 at 12:41pm: Chris,

That's awesome about the move to Colorado! Michael had mentioned that. I love how you and your wife are following through with your dreams. Missed the tutorial! I was listening to the playback. You left and came back like 15 times or something. Right? :)

Comment by Chris Sutton on February 15, 2012 at 9:14pm: Hi Claudia,

Colorado was great! We are seriously considering moving there.

It was fun doing the No More Mondays show. Justin is such a great guy. Did you see the hugging tutorial we did for the live audience?

Comment by Claudia Good on February 10, 2012 at 8:09pm: Chris,

Wow. That is one girl that wants some daddy time. I love it, and I'm sure you will be exactly that awesome dad she needs :)

Yup, and sounds like she won't let ya slide either!

How was Colorado? Had fun listening to you on the No More Mondays show!! :)

Comment by Claudia Good on February 10, 2012 at 8:05pm: Spencer,

Just read your blog. Nice man! Always love to see people taking action! It is crazy how doors open when we finally get off our butts and start doing things!

Just out of curiosity are you a high "C" on your DISC profile? :)

Comment by Chris Sutton on February 10, 2012 at 1:23pm: The other day at dinner my daughter started drawing on a piece of paper. I asked her what she was doing and she replied "you'll see." She finished and then proceeded to explain that this is a calendar. Every time you spend time with just me I will mark it on the calendar.

Quite an accountability partner eh?

Comment by Spencer Burnside on February 10, 2012 at 9:10am: Claudia, Funny you should ask about the podcast. I just wrote a blog post about it. I really just got started with the SnapCast. Last fall I set things up for a Christmas podcast, I recorded several episodes, and it prepared me for what I'm doing now. My wife is a big support. We have 3 kids. It's crazy.

Comment by Claudia Good on February 10, 2012 at 7:28am: Spencer,

Haha, indeed :) Things pop up that aren't especially in the books right!? I realize the more intentional I am with thinking, reading and talking to wise people on parenting the more prepared I am. This has been huge for Michael and I. :)

How many kids do you have? I looked at your website... cool man! I like what you are doing! How long have you been doing your blog/podcast?

Comment by Spencer Burnside on February 9, 2012 at 8:13pm: I thought we had all the answers about parenting. And then we had kids. Thanks for sharing this Claudia.

Comment by Claudia Good on February 4, 2012 at 6:28am: Kent,

Anytime! Looking forward to your next one ;)

Comment by Claudia Good on February 4, 2012 at 6:28am: Bernard,

Wow. I love that you were proactive from the time you got married!

This was wonderful to read... a father taking time and being intentional about spending time consistently with his kids is lacking so often these days! Your children are truly blessed!

Thank you for sharing!

Blessings to you and your wife :)