Ponder Question #3 What is a parent's role in helping children?

How you perceive your role as a parent has a lot to do with how you act towards your child.  Some people think of themselves as a military sergeant whose job is to get those kids to obey immediately and stay on a rigid schedule.  Others think of themselves as a bacon provider who brings home the money, and the kids are on their own after that.   Others think of themselves as an employment trainer, whose primary job is to teach their child to work.  Others think that they are supposed to keep their child happy at all times, thus buying and doing whatever it takes to keep a smile on a face.  There are many other mindsets, each with advantages and disadvantages.  Each mindset reveals something about the values and beliefs of the parent.   What is your idea of your role with your child?  What does that say about your values and beliefs?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of your mindset?  Would you want to change it?  Can you change it?  How much of it did you inherit from the way that you were raised by your parents?  How did that work for you as a child? And possibly most important, how is following your mindset affecting your child?  Is it creating current and future joy in the family and with your children?