We are focusing on parents for the month of March. March has been identified as Parent Awareness month, International Parent Awareness Week is March 11-17 and National Single Parents Day is March 21.
Parenting is a journey that lasts a lifetime. Families are the most important institution, the most important resource in a child’s life. As parents our role is essential in shaping the well- being of our children. Every parent wants to be a good parent and I am sure you have asked yourself many times, what is the blueprint for being a parent? How am I supposed to do this? Today, there are so many parenting books available, and I am actually in the process of writing one myself. There are conversations, debates about what is the best parenting style and people sharing how to be a good parent. As Christians there is really only one blueprint for how to live our lives and this blueprint includes how to parent our children. The blueprint is the Bible. Before I jump into how the Bible tells us how to parent, let’s define parenting.
What does it mean to be a parent? Multiple dictionaries definitions of parenting agree on these elements:
The American Psychological Association defines three primary goals of parenting:
Did you know the Bible has so many references, (one source says 1,900), that mention parents, fathers, and mothers. These references are in dozens of stories about families. Some are encouraging and some show very complicated family dynamics. Yes, the Bible has narratives of families who went through some of the same things you faced in your family and as a parent. The Bible also offers us guidance for how to navigate this parenting journey. The Bible expresses roles, realities and responsibilities of parents. Jesus shares with us the principles He asks of us as followers and these apply to parenting also. We should follow God’s example of what it means to love His children. Here are some specific ways the Bible asks parents to “disciple” their children.
Parenting and Mental Health
According to the CDC, the mental health of children is connected to parent’s mental health. Parents are the first source of support in children becoming independent and leading healthy and successful lives. Fathers, mothers and other caregivers who have the role of parent, need support, which in turn, can help them support their children’s mental health.
Parenting is a joy AND at some point you will feel overwhelmed and stressed. According to Dr. Bhutia, medical director of the adolescent and behavior health unit at Multi-care Tacoma General Hospital, “In order for our children to flourish parents should not neglect their own mental health.” Lowering your stress levels fosters connections that nurture you and your family.
Strategies for Parents to Support Their Mental Health
Parenting is one of God’s most important callings. It is our responsibility is to shepherd the children God has given us. We are to trust God’s power to help us raise godly young men and women who love him with all their heart and soul. Parenting does not come with a manual, there will be a lot of trial and error as you figure out what works best for you and your child. The Bible gives us a blueprint for how to parent like Jesus.
Below you will find National Resources to assist you with the teen in your life!
Love is Respect.org: A project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, they are a resource to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse.
That’s Not Cool.com: Helps young people draw a “digital line” about what is and what is not okay in their relationships
2022 TDVAM Action Guide: Toolkit for this year’s campaign, “Talk About It.”
2022 TDVAM Events Calendar: Calendar of TDVAM events in February.
Vital Signs: Prevalence of Multiple Forms of Violence and Increased Health Risk Behaviors and Conditions Among Youths — United States, 2019: The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vital Signs report examines the types of violence experienced by teens aged 14 to 18 years old and highlights findings from the 2019 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Almost half of teens (44.3%) experienced at least one type of violence and 1 in 7 (15.6%) of teens experienced at least two types of violence in the last year. The more violence young people experience, they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
Serving Teen Survivors: A Manual for Advocates: This manual for advocates provides a brief overview on the unique issues young sexual violence survivors face. It includes tip sheets on working with teens, information on confidentiality and mandated reporting laws, and much more!
Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention: This free online course is for educators and others working with youth.
Preventing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence: This collection of online resources helps with preventing and responding to teen dating violence.
Furthermore, in reading this article, you may find that you may need additional or immediate assistance. Please use the contact information below to help you or your teen!
If you are in immediate danger, call 911
National Dating Abuse Hotline, call 866-331-9474 or text “loveis” to 22522.
National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 800–799-7233
Drop us a line at pastoralcounseling@alfredstreet.org and tell us how you are doing!
NOTE: due to an overwhelming response, counseling requests are being wait-listed and answered in order received. Contacting your insurance provider, employer provided employee assistance program team or EAP team or larger platforms like Better Help or Thrive works may be a better option for an immediate request.