Parenting Reflection

I saw this on a student's Facebook profile and it immediately sent me to my blog...

Me, behave? Seriously? As a child I saw Tarzan almost naked, Cinderella arrived home after midnight, Pinocchio told lies, Aladdin was a thief, Batman drove over 200 miles an hour, Snow White lived in a house with 7 men, Popeye smoked a pipe and had tattoos, Pac Man ran around to digital music while eating pills that enhanced his performance, and Shaggy and Scooby were mystery solving hippies that always had the munchies. The fault is not mine! 

As a parent my kids are observing things everyday that are forming in them thought patterns that they will based their life on.  Choices, decisions & values that will be part of their character forming.  
So, what do they observe of me that shows an obedience to Christ?  
What do they see me to that reflects dis-obedience to Jesus? 
What conversations do I need to have with them so they can learn to think for themselves in a healthy way?
Go back to your child-hood.  What movies, TV shows, music, friendships helped form some of you enjoyed and didn't enjoy?  We get attached so easily to social activity that sometimes it escapes our filter of "Is this really the best thing for me?"  As parents our kids are watching what we value and then watching what their friends & peers value and wondering what is different or why they are the same.  As kids develop they hit a certain stage where their identity needs to seperate from their parents.  It doesn't mean that they automatically rebel, but it does mean they need to think for themselves.  I have a short window (it feels) to help my kids learn to be able to know how to think for themselves so as they form their own identity it is one that reflects being a blessing to this world and not a leech.
Working with teens, being a part of conversations with them, it is common to see how their values they personally hold  reflect a "majority rule" consensus.  If the majority around them vote "YES" on something then they are inclined to the do the same.  Even those individuals that like to be non-conformists...they end up conforming with their non-comformist friends.  Often what they truly value is hidden because if they aren't in the majority it is hard to stand against the "masses".


Dang...parenting is fun!!