Parents Expect Too Little Out of Their Children

Do parents expect too little out of their children? All scriptures point to YES, they do!

One has only to look at the number of times a parent gives a directive before it is carried out by their child to see that parents do indeed, expect too little out of their children.

Proof that parents expect too little from their children:

When a parent has to tell their child to put their shoes on three different times before their child complies, and they count that a win… they are expecting and accepting too little out of their child.

If a parent has to gear up for a fight before asking their child to put the milk back in the fridge… they are expecting and accepting too little out of their child.

If a parent is happy their son cleaned his room even though:

• They asked him to clean it 3 hours ago
• Reminded him twice to clean it
• Demanded he get off his game three different times and clean it
• Threatened their son with numerous consequences for not cleaning it
• Screamed like a banshee whose head was on fire that they were “Done” with their child’s disobedience and defiance
• And eventually ended up having to turn off the X-box to get his son to clean his room.

The parents expect and accept too little out of their child.

Expectations of my Parents:

My mom loved me unconditionally. That amazing woman was going to love me regardless of what I did or didn’t do.

The flip side to that unconditional love was that I didn’t have to try… at anything I was just loved. It also meant as a parent, she expected and accepted too little from me, so that is what she got.

I obeyed when I felt like it. I made sure she had to check my chores at least three times before they were done right. If she asked anything of me, it was met with a dramatic sigh and an eye roll. (Sorry Mom!)

My dad demanded my best efforts, so that is what he got. I obeyed my dad’s directives immediately and with a great attitude! I did my chores correctly the first time he told me to do them. I gave my dad the utmost respect; I never once thought about rolling my eyes when I was speaking with my dad!

My dad expected and ONLY accepted excellence from me, not as a condition of his love, but as PROOF of it.

Parent’s expectations influence how their children view themselves, and what their children believe they are capable of achieving.

One of satan’s greatest lies…

satan has convinced parents all over the world to accept mediocrity from their children because to demand excellence from them would be “putting too much pressure on them.”

My dad expecting excellence from me, was not an unbearable pressure. For me, it was a declaration of my worth. Dad believed, so I believed.

Once parents buy in to this, their children are of no consequence to satan. He is satisfied with mediocrity because it keeps our children from being what God created them to be, holy.

What are God’s expectations for His children?

In Colossians 3:12-17 God gives us some character traits (EXPECTATIONS) necessary for being HOLY people; being tenderhearted, having mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

In this scripture, https://www.gotquestions.org/be-holy-for-I-am-holy.html it says we are to be holy because our God is holy.

What does it mean to be holy? One definition of holy is: “to be morally and spiritually EXCELLENT.”

How can we know if we are meeting God’s expectations?

We will know if we are meeting God’s expectations by knowing what His expectations are (Bible reading) and then by obeying Him, rather than listening to what society says is acceptable behavior.

In Leviticus 20:26, God says “I have set you apart from all other people to be My very own.”

Questions to ponder…

Could a person see that your child is “set apart” when compared to other children in their classroom, on the playground, or when your teen is surfing the web?

Or better yet…

Could a person look at you and see that you are “set apart” from other employees, other parents? What about if they overheard an argument between you and your spouse?

We need to start raising our children as if they were created by God to be holy and set apart by Him because they WERE!

But…

It’s hard to teach something we’ve never been taught. Before you can raise young men and women of integrity and honor, you have to become a parent of integrity and honor.

Click this link: https://www.raisingkidsofhonor.com/3-steps-to-becoming-a-parent-of-integrity-and-honor/ if you’re ready to start becoming the parent God created you to be!