HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING HOW TO FAIL

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Parent Guilt is Real: • We regularly make mistakes and wrong our children • We place some pretty expectations on ourselves • Our culture communicates that failure is unacceptable My assumptions about everyone here

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING We know we fail as parents, so what does this look like? • Guilt • Shame • Anger • Embarrassment • Hiding • Hopelessness • Denial This is exhausting! So what do we do?

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Romans 5: 6, 8 -11 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Romans 5: 6, 8 -11 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Romans 5: 6, 8 -11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Why is this Important? • Gives us a solid foundation • God is able to meet the deepest needs or our soul • The secret is out, you mess up and the beauty is that God wants to forgive you and lavish you with his love

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Isaiah 1: 18 Come now, let’s settle this, ” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING 1 John 1: 8 -9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING James 5: 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Confessing to your child • • • I was wrong, would you please forgive me? Avoid explaining it away Tell them why it wasn’t right Leave out age-inappropriate details Ask for their prayers to help change Sympathize with their struggles: “I can understand because you know how I struggle with x. God forgives us. Let’s pray for help. ”

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING Potential benefits to your child • Teaches them they neither have to be perfect, nor pretend to be • Teaches them how to apologize and forgive • Teaches them resilience • Teaches them that you love them

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING James 5: 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Confess to other parents, too Questions, Comments, or Stories?

HOW TO FAIL AT PARENTING • Discussion Group Questions: • Did your parents model repentance? How or how not? What effect did their example have on you? • What are your greatest sources parenting shame? • How can we practically apply God’s grace to parenting shame? • How do you typically respond to your kids when you fail in parenting? • What makes openness with other parents about parenting mistakes so difficult? How could you help create openness with your parent friends?