Thou Shall Know Thy Child

This post marks the first of  a series I'd like to call The 10 Commandments of Parenting. I'm not a parenting expert nor do I proclaim to be one. However, there are a few principles that I live by when it comes to raising my little one.

The other evening I was having dinner with a friend of mine that I haven't seen in 2 years. She shared with my best friend and I a truly outrageous story my daughter told her. As she told the story I gave my best friend a side ways glance. We both rolled our eyes and said, "That's not true." My friend was so convinced that what my daughter had said was accurate. She kept saying "But that's what she told me. Now why would she say that out of the blue?" All I could do was shake my head. My best friend said, "You don't know her like we do." I know what some of you may be thinking. How could I be so casual about something that clearly has someone else so worked up? First of all, it was not an allegation of abuse nor neglect and second of all I live by Commandment #1: Thou Shall Know Thy Child.

Sienna has always been one who loves to get reactions out of people. She thrives on being the center of attention and is very aware of how to go about getting it. This is the same child who at 5 years old told me she wanted to be an actress and that she is going to live in L.A and New York. Here we are 3 years later and she still hasn't changed her confession. I taught her early to speak into existence what she desires (Romans 4:17).

I'm a parent who is not in denial about her child and attention seeking behavior. She's an only child of a single mother; it is kind of par for the course. Since I am aware of this I am doing my due diligence and working with The Father to get her on the right track. When I stop and think I can honestly say that I've seen serious progress with my big girl. Will the desire for attention ever leave her? I doubt it. She just needs to be taught what kind of attention should be desired.

It is critical that parents really know their children and to be honest about their behavior. I hear parents say often, "My child would never do/say that?" and then that same child makes them out of a liar. I've seen it time and time again parents will go to the school and get upset with the teachers when their child has misbehaved. I tell the teachers up front that my daughter is a character and can be a class clown, especially if she is bored. When Sienna is disciplined for disruptive behavior I know she deserves it and I back it up accordingly (Proverbs 29:17). Why...because I know my child.

****Later this week Commandment #2 Thou Shall Not Compare****