Danette’s Reviews > Purposeful and Persistent Parenting: Blessing Others, Blue-Tape Boundaries, and Other Practical Perspectives on Raising Children > Status Update

Being taught not to whine as a child helps them prepare for adulthood as they practice good habits of heart training and accurate thinking. Rather than complaining (an adult form of whining), they learn to recognize that a sovereign, benevolent God is orchestrating the steps of their life, for their good and His glory, and to whine is to complain against Him.

We know we may be becoming harsh when we lack compassion for our children as they struggle with their sin, perhaps not recognizing that we are fellow sinners. Just as God is compassionate with us, we need to be compassionate with our children.

The reality is that most children are strong-willed boundary pushers, and those who are exceptionally strong-willed, stubborn, and good at pushing boundaries are especially in need of training in this area of obedience.

“When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it.”
Bernard Bailey