failproof your parenting…
I have to break it to you: If you’re still trying to be a “good parent” on your terms with your strength and your wisdom, you will fail.
How do I know?
St. Paul told the Corinthians: God’s “foolishness” (not that there is any) is wiser than human wisdom. God’s weakness is stronger than human “strength.” If you’re still operating on human wisdom from human strength, you’re not on solid footing.
Why am I talking to you about your faith walk and your spiritual life instead of “strategies for preventing sibling abuse”?
Because parenting children who were intended to carry and manifest the IMAGE OF GOD by using feeble human wisdom would be like trying to climb Mount Everest without a guide or compass, air supply, climbing gear, clothing, nourishment. You’re not going to make it.
You can read 100 books or blogs about “how to parent like this or that”. You’ll get some direction on how to get kids to behave or be good when people are watching or fit into the world. But those books are only going to give you ways to put a band-aid on a deep-seated problem.
You cannot use worldly wisdom to parent each of your children 100% FAIRLY—and thus prevent sibling aggression or heated rivalry that teeters on the brink of abuse.
Why? Aggression or abuse is always driven by a person/child’s need for God’s love and attention. Your children with direct that God-need toward you the parent who are God’s stand-in (steward) of His child until that child learns to know His Love for themselves.
You will not fulfill your children’s need for TRUE LOVE without being dead to yourself.
You can only die to yourself by being ONE with the One who designed and created you (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit).
If you want to look good to the world, read the world’s books/blogs.
If you want to parent standing on God’s Wisdom, you’re in the right place.
There’s a compass. There’s a True North. The wisdom of the world may feel and look correct… but beware… if you’re off course by only 2 degrees, they’re not going to make it. Ask any pilot: 2 degrees off … over time… is way off.