Hi Cia6943,

Thank you for asking for advice here, and welcome to the Focus Online Community.  What a generous, compassionate heart you have to open your home to your sister and her family.  It is evident from your words that you care deeply about each of them, or else you would not desire to equip your sister to effectively discipline her children and shape their wills.  It definitely sounds like a need exists there.  I am sure you must feel helpless watching this all play out from the outside, and feel that since they are living in your house, it would not be overstepping boundaries to lovingly present her with some resources to help strengthen her role as a parent.  Discipline can often be an intimidating and difficult subject, but can absolutely change the lives of her entire family.  Loving discipline carried out effectively and biblically creates peace and harmony in a home, it's just a matter of arming yourself with the right tools and carrying them out.

So as for information, we have some great articles on our Web site that would be a good starting point.  The articles series on approaches to discipline is really good, as it discusses what to do when kids run you over and how to handle disrespect.  The article series on why kids misbehave will give her a greater understanding of her children's behavior while honing in on her own parenting style.  In addition to the resources featured on the right hand side of the articles I linked you to, I would highly suggest giving her Have a New Kid by Fridayby Dr. Kevin Leman.  It is a humorous, easy read, that is sure to change your sister's outlook on parenting.  It even comes in an audiobookif you think that would be more convenient for her and her husband.  In addition, Dr. Dobson's The New Dare to Discipline is an excellent book to educate a parenting about the purpose of discipline and how it should lovingly be carried out.

I will be praying for you, Cia6943, asking the Lord to give you strength and wisdom in knowing how to approach your sister with this information.  I will pray that she receives it from you with a tender and thankful heart.  Let us know what you decide to do.  Oh, and if you still aren't sure, you can always talk this over in greater detail with one of our counselors - they would love to help!

What do the rest of you think about Cia6943's situation?

Erika

Forum Moderator