As our kids grow older our parenting role is more about guiding than instructing. When we were instructing our kids, if they didn’t follow through we’d call that disobedience and deal with it. But what happens when they are older and don’t take our guidance?
Is it disobedience? This is where parents need to have a different perspective. No, it isn’t disobedience – it is making an informed decision (or it should be). It may well be a decision you disagree with, but it is their decision.
In our family we’ve tried to slowly ease into giving more and more decisions to the kids themselves. Our whole focus when they were younger was to help them see God’s wisdom; to help them choose between wisdom or foolishness. At some stage they need to start being responsible for making decisions.
When does this happen?
