***PARENTS, BEWARE OF THE DANGERS OF CRITICIZING YOUR CHILD (PART 2)***

Of course, much of parents criticisms are well intentioned. They criticize because they are anxious about their child’s future and want the best for them. But before you compare your child with others, do you know what their race looks like?, do you know how long they have been running their race?, do you know what their background is?, do you know the type of training they had?, and do you know how they will finish their race? Believing parents need to understand that correction and discipline are meant to improve and enhance a child’s sense of self and help a child to become self-disciplined, self-motivated and self-determined to succeed, and not to demoralize children, tear them down and to make them feel worthless or less than what they are.

A girl in her teens has to marry a rich old man, old enough to be her grandfather as his third wife simply because of her mother’s constant complains and nagging of how other girls like her are being smart in making reasonable money for their family, helping out in catering for their siblings, riding latest cars, as well as building mansions here and there. But she chooses to be wasting her time in the name of going to university just to obtain a degree certificate. According to her mother, “HOW SOMEONE MAKES MONEY DOES NOT MATTER AS LONG AS THE MONEY KEEPS COMING”. To satisfy her mother’s wicked needs and ego, and also release herself from her unbearable criticism, the unfortunate girl gave up her dreams and passions. She got married to an old man because of his wealth.

A man sold his soul to the devil by joining a dreadful secret society because he needed to make money to build mansion in his father’s compound in the village and also ride big cars. He wanted his father’s acceptance and praise due to his consistent criticism and negative conception of how useless he is, how his age mates in the village are building mansions and sky scrapper every corner of their father’s compound and buying cars for their parents, but he choose to be a failure and worthless.

A boy became a victim of sex addict due to his parent’s lack of love, attention and respect for his opinions. They hardly encourage him and tear him down at any slightest error/mistake. Hence, he was force to look for love elsewhere, which he found in his school uncle who was a homosexual. That was how he got initiated into homosexuality and other sexual immorality.

Another teenager committed suicide after he learnt that his exam grade/result was not fascinating enough. Of course, his parents will not spare to punish and criticize him with such poor grade as they expect nothing but the best from him always.
Parents should not be obsessed over their child’s grades, making that a determining factor of their intellectual capacity and being successful. Don’t put undue pressures on children to get good grades at all costs. They should not base their acceptance, affections and reward of their child/children on grades alone but behavior and godly character. A child might have good grade but exhibits bad behaviors and wicked characters which would hold him back from succeeding in the future.

Also, offending parents should bury their ego and unnecessary authority and control they display to their children by learning to humbly acknowledge their errors and when appropriate, apologize to their children who they deliberately criticize and tear down their self-esteem. Apologizing to your child will not reduce or diminish your authority and respect as parent. Rather, you have modeled an important lesson in building mutual relationship with your child and with others, thereby gaining authority and ultimate respect from the child. BE YOUR CHILD NUMBER ONE ENCOURAGER…SHALOM!!!

#NO_CHILD_IS_ABLE_TO_BEHAVE_AT_THEIR_BEST_WHEN_THEY_ARE_CONSTANTLY_CRITICIZE#