Good Parenting

1. The child exists to glorify the Lord, not the child nor the parents.
2. Prenatal care.
3. Natural childbirth.
4. Avoid medical intervention when reasonable.
5. Breastfeed as long as the child wants; this means nursing, not just feeding of breastmilk.
6. Meet the child's emotional needs; until 6+ months old, all child knows is needs, not wants.
7. Hold the child close often.
8. Both parents sleep with the child.
9. Both parents must bond with the child by frequent, close, physical contact.
10. Include child in all of life; don't put life on hold, but don't abandon child to untrustworthy babysitters.
11. Talk to the child without condescension.
12. Love the child unconditionally.
13. Homeschool all the way.
14. Teach the ways of the Lord.
15. Pray with the child regularly and often.
16. Give the child as much responsibility as he can handle, but no more.
17. Praise often and sincerely.
18. Criticize only lovingly, for the eventual success of the child.
19. Understand and relate to the child based upon his learning style and personality.
20. Do not provoke the child to wrath.
21. Do not permit defiance or disrespect of authority in any form; this is the one justification for corporal punishment.
22. Discipline must be absolutely consistent.
23. Do not trust other children or parents to care for yours as you would.
24. Allow the child to make mistakes that aren't permanently or overly harmful.
25. The child is not yours to do with as you please, but the Lord's on loan to you by Him; therefore raise the child as the Lord's.