Parenting...Kids?

I work in a grocery store. I see some pretty bizarre people and situations on a daily basis. My favorite thing to see in a grocery store is when a customer pays for another customer's groceries. Seeing things like that restores your faith in humanity. My least favorite thing is seeing parents lash out at their kids.

I don't have any kids so I'm probably unqualified to write a post on parenting, but I'm gonna take a crack at it anyway.

I see so many parents yelling, hitting, cursing, and insulting their kids. Most of these kids are under the age of five and don't know any better. I'm well aware of how naughty kids are. I once was a kid and I have four little brothers. Is hitting your kid or yelling at him/her really the answer?

I feel like so many parents yell and hit their kids because they're struggling with their own personal issues. Maybe money's tight, they're struggling with work issues, or maybe their marriage is hanging on by a thread. Whatever you're struggling with don't take it out on your kids.

Hitting and yelling just creates fear. Children should never be afraid of you—especially your own child. Personally, I feel like a lot of kids (teenagers especially) are afraid of how their parents are going to respond  if they do something wrong. Kids shouldn't be afraid of their parents—they should be able to open up to them and feel comfortable talking to them about anything. Parents are you creating that atmosphere? Parents need to be able to combine discipline and love together.

Something that bugs me is when kids complain about their parents or vice versa. I see and hear so many kids say how much they hate their parents and how their parents are such bad people. If it wasn't for their parents they wouldn't have the breathe to complain with in the first place. If you're a parent quit complaining how horrible your kid is. Most of the time kids are products of their parents. If you have a horrible kid what does that say about you?

Us kids and teenagers maybe don't show it enough, but we really do care desperately about our parents. We couldn't live without you. You cook us food, put a roof over our head, and buy us what we need to get by.

I really wonder how often most parents think about what their kids go through. Teenagers and kids don't have nearly the same amount of responsibilities you have, but we struggle with a lot of stuff too.

When kids get older—especially into their teen years their self-esteem and self-confidence really takes a blow. They need to hear that their important, cared about, and never alone. Parents—ask your kid how they're doing and if they want to talk about anything. You just might be surprised by the answer you get.

Parents love your kids. You only get typically 18 years with them sometimes even less. Tell them how much they mean to you and how much you care about them. Teens/kids respect your parents. They know what they're talking about even when it seems like they don't. They need some love every once in a while too. Tell them you're thankful for all they do.

Ephesians 6:1-4 states, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."