The Myth of the Perfect Parent

I loved this article on Christian Parenting.

The Myth of the Perfect Parent by Leslie Leyland Fields

A few quotes...
"We are so focused on ourselves—on our own need for success and the success of our children—that we have come to view parenting as a performance or a test...If we are graded instead on an absolute scale—as I believe we are—we fail even more miserably. But this is why a Savior was provided, and gifted to us through grace, through faith—"and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). If even our ability to believe in God is given to us by God, then how much of parenting can we perform on our own? We must proceed, then, on our knees first, beggars before the throne, if we are to parent well...

We are not sovereign over our children only God is. Children are not tomatoes to stake out or mules to train, nor are they numbers to plug into an equation. They are full human beings wondrously and fearfully made. Parenting, like all tasks under the sun, is intended as an endeavor of love, risk, perseverance, and, above all, faith. It is faith rather than formula [italics mine], grace rather than guarantees, steadfastness rather than success that bridges the gap between our own parenting efforts, and what, by God's grace, our children grow up to become."- Leslie Leyland Fields

A really great perspective at Christian parenting. Very much along the lines of Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel...It's about walking in REALTIONSHIP with our children. Holding them to the natural and logical boundries and consequences that God holds us to. Modeling for them and mirroring the relationship (through GRACE) that we have with God Himself. Okay enough, just sparked some thoughts in my mind thought I'd share.