“Parenting is pure paradise”… said no one in the history of the world.
Of course there are pleasurable moments that make up our days raising children. Parenting has been the foremost joy of my adult life, heck, it’s also my life’s work so to say the least it’s weaved into my day in positive ways.
but let’s get real…parenting, like all good and holy work, can be laborious (requiring considerable time, effort, and perseverance). It can be demanding, emotionally exhausting, and it often leaves moms and dads frustrated.
Despite the struggles, parenting is a God-given calling to sustain your family, and so , like all callings in life, we show up day after day faking it until we feel it when it comes to the joy of parenting hoping one day we will see the fruits of our work.
With God‘s assistance, you produced this life and now you have the opportunity to sustain your child’s growth and you can do this by taking on the hard and fruitful work of active parenting and till it like you would any garden…dig up the weeds, cultivate good seeds, and free it of clutter and debris so your child can grow.
It requires discipling (not the same as disciplining) your child.
Discipling …
Teaching them in mini intentional moments throughout the week and developing their moral code.
Modeling for them … drawing it out so they can see and know The Way to grow.
Living and practicing alongside them knowing they’ll stumble and fall at first and allowing space for redo and review.
Acknowledging and praising the smallest bits of progress so it begins to inform their next step.
Knowing that God, who gave you this opportunity for family, is standing witness to the wonders of your growth as a parent and their growth as a young person can help you stick with it. All of this is happening right in the middle of this labor of love.
The struggle on your part and theirs is part of the plan. Don’t wish it away. Everything good comes from toil. So embrace it.
Renee Mattson is a licensed intervention specialist with more than 30 years of experience coaching, teaching, and presenting in schools, homes, and university settings. As the founder of Child in Bloom and author of Child in Bloom: Practical Advice for Parenting through the Growing Years, Renee helps parents navigate the growing years with greater confidence, connection, and practical support.
Through her work, Renee teaches that small, intentional shifts in adult behavior can lead to meaningful and lasting changes in children. Her writing focuses on helping families build more function, fun, and connection into everyday life through realistic parenting strategies that support growth over time. Read more about Renee here.
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