{"id":305776,"date":"2020-02-22T06:00:04","date_gmt":"2020-02-22T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/parenting-toddlers\/"},"modified":"2020-02-22T06:00:04","modified_gmt":"2020-02-22T11:00:04","slug":"parenting-toddlers","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/parenting-toddlers\/","title":{"rendered":"Parenting Toddlers"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Courtney Reissig and Maria Goff join moms in the &#8220;trenches&#8221; of raising toddlers. Paul David Tripp helps us see the bigger spiritual principles at stake in training small children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"http:\/\/d2c17sq0nj1f7e.cloudfront.net\/flw2020-02-22.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:28:00","filesize":"12.82M","filesize_raw":"13442784","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2852,2838,2806,2881],"tags":[2209],"podcast_series":[],"cwp_profile":[3418,9597,3097],"series":[10388],"class_list":["post-305776","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","hentry","category-discipline","category-mothers","category-spiritual-development","category-young-children","tag-parenting","cwp_profile-courtney-reissig","cwp_profile-maria-goff","cwp_profile-paul-david-tripp","series-familylife-this-week"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/10\/FLTW-Podcast-Cover-2-1400x1400-1-300x300-1.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/305776\/parenting-toddlers","player_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/305776\/parenting-toddlers","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-this-week","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"QvEJShaI8B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/parenting-toddlers\/\">Parenting Toddlers<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/parenting-toddlers\/embed\/#?secret=QvEJShaI8B\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Parenting Toddlers&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"QvEJShaI8B\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Courtney Reissig and Maria Goff join moms in the \"trenches\" of raising toddlers. Paul David Tripp helps us see the bigger spiritual principles at stake in training small children.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/flw\/flw2020-02-22.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> My favorite people to interact with are three-year-olds. I just think they\u2019re so cute! But moms, I know that you see a different side. Here\u2019s Maria Goff.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Most of the time, it\u2019s more of a feeling of: \u201cI don\u2019t like this person right now,\u201d\u2014like, \u201cI do not like her right now.\u201d You don\u2019t think about cuteness; because all you can think about is: \u201cThey\u2019re not complying,\u201d and \u201cThey\u2019re inconveniencing my life,\u201d and \u201cI just want it to stop.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> We\u2019re going to talk about succeeding with parenting toddlers, without losing your mind, on this edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWelcome to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I\u2019m Michelle Hill. You know, parenting is hard! Parenting toddlers is hard! Life\u2019s an adventure; but with those little ones, it\u2019s even <em>more <\/em>of an adventure. I have had many conversations with my co-worker, Megan, about her four-year-old and seven-year-old; and it\u2019s a <em>challenge<\/em>. It reminds me of a day in the life of my friend, Esther Anderson. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Esther:<\/strong> It\u2019s not even ten o\u2019clock, and it has been <em>a day!<\/em> Aubrey got into all those hair ties; dumped them across the room while I was outside with Ellia, waiting for the bus, which we were late for, because we couldn\u2019t find the meat for her lunch; and she had to take a bath, and her hair was wet, and she couldn\u2019t find \u201cthis,\u201d and she couldn\u2019t find her sock, and she couldn\u2019t find her boots. [Sigh] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd <em>then<\/em>, Aubrey took off her diaper and took off around the house! I haven\u2019t found anything <em>yet<\/em>; I\u2019m guessing I probably <em>will<\/em>. It will be a nice surprise, probably right as I\u2019m trying to leave the house. Tessa wanted to fix her dresser, with a <em>hammer<\/em>. So if you see me in public today, and I have that <em>crazy<\/em> look in my <em>eye<\/em>, just do\u2014you know, what is it from <em>Hunger Games<\/em>?\u2014they do this thing\u2014just give me <em>this<\/em>; I\u2019ll feel so much better!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s my friend, Esther Anderson. You may recognize her from her social media platforms on \u201cStory of This Life.\u201d You know, some days, moms know raising kids is <em>exactly<\/em> what God created them for; and other days, well, moms, you want to pull your hair out! All moms need a little bit of encouragement from someone who\u2019s been there and done that and survived those years.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tRecently, I sat with my friend, Courtney Reissig, who is a mom of four boys: twin seven-year-olds, a four-year-old, and a two-year-old. I thought it would be fun to ask my friend, Maria Goff, to join in this conversation. She\u2019s a mom of two girls: a one-year-old and a four-year-old. The reason I thought this would be a great conversation was because Courtney is just a few years further into this motherhood journey.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHere\u2019s our conversation with Maria, starting things off talking about her four-year-old daughter, Estelle.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous Recording]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> The struggle we have lately with her is rage, like she just has rage. I know you look at me and you\u2019re like, \u201cEstelle has rage?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes! How could she?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> But she has rage! Like she will clench her fists, and just like shake, and then just shriek when she doesn\u2019t get what she wants; then I get angry. I struggle with, \u201cOkay, what do I do now?\u201d\u2014because she needs to be disciplined\u2014\u201cbut I am <em>so angry<\/em> right now.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> I feel like, though, if I put it off, then it\u2019s just going to be forgotten and swept under the rug.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Sure.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> You know, like what do I do right now? This needs to be addressed, but I\u2019m so angry. I don\u2019t want to do it right now, because I feel like I\u2019m going to act out toward her in anger.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes; I think in the heat of the moment, depending on the age of the kid\u2014so she\u2019s four.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> We\u2019ve had to deal with that a lot. While my children might have rage, I have rage, too. In the heat of the moment, one of the things my husband and I are committed to is just not disciplining in our anger.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Right, right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> And so my husband doesn\u2019t struggle with that nearly as much as I do. I have often\u2014when I\u2019m very, very angry\u2014had them go sit in my room, or go sit on the couch, or sit while I calmed down. A four-year-old can understand some of that delayed-ness. A two-year-old can<em>not <\/em>understand, or a one year-old cannot understand the delay; so in those instances, if you\u2019re too angry to discipline them, removing them from the situation and putting them in their crib or something, I think, is incredibly helpful.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> But for a four-year-old, you can remove them and then say: \u201cMommy is very angry right now. I will deal with you in a minute.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Because then I\u2019m thinking, \u201cOkay, now I have multiple disobedience issues then.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Correct! Right. [Laughter] Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Have you had any issues with any of your children\u2014like physically fighting you while you\u2019re trying to discipline them?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes; oh, yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> I have four sons!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Okay. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> So we have a whole lot of flailing arms and legs.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> And how do you handle that?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Every person is unique. God created humanity all unique, and with varying differences and diversity, and things like that. Every child has a personality that\u2019s unique, so what works for one kid with discipline won\u2019t work with another kid. We like to put this blanket\u2014like, \u201cIf you do this, it\u2019s going to work perfectly.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> It does not always work! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI have four children, and they are all very different. One kid\u2014you tell him, \u201cNo,\u201d\/you say, \u201cNo,\u201d firmly\u2014and they cry. Another one is like, \u201cI\u2019ll do it anyway.\u201d Then we\u2019ve seen things happen with them, with discipline, that just work for one and don\u2019t work for another; sometimes, it\u2019s just trial and error. It involves knowing your kid.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> It involves\u2014in the same way that you want to know your spouse, or your friends, or your family members in order to love them better, I\u2019ve found that learning my kids helps me know how best to help them when they\u2019re struggling with sin.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s helpful. Do you feel overwhelmed, Maria?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> With life or with the kids? [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> It\u2019s kind of life-long for right now! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes; it depends on the day. You know, some days are good days; some days, she\u2019s in a better mood. Before, when she was three, I called her a \u201cthreenager.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Oh, three is so hard! Three is the worst.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> She just\u2014and everyone\u2019s like, \u201cOh, when they turn four!\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cShe turned four; nothing happened.\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes, it\u2019s not a magical switch.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> She just\u2014the backtalk, and the attitude, and eye-rolling, and the grumbling, and the complaining. It\u2019s like <em>every<\/em> single day. That\u2019s what I get overwhelmed with\u2014just the exhaustion of <em>every<\/em> single thing I tell her being a fight\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> \u2014being a negotiation.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> <em>Very<\/em> rarely is it ever, \u201cEstelle, do this,\u201d and she does it; you know? And that gets exhausting and overwhelming; and more so when you feel like you\u2019re not seeing progress\u2014not just progress like outwardly\u2014but you\u2019re not seeing remorse or repentance on her part. It\u2019s just the same things over and over again; you don\u2019t see change. You don\u2019t see them understanding the things that you\u2019re trying to tell them when you are having those discipleship conversations when you\u2019re disciplining; you know? That gets overwhelming.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Well, one thing I keep wondering is: \u201cHow do you know when you\u2019re dealing with a three-year-old who\u2019s immature or a three-year-old who\u2019s a willful sinner?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> And \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference? I mean, what\u2019s the difference in your discipline at that point?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Right. That\u2019s hard, because I feel like I don\u2019t always notice that until after I\u2019ve gotten really angry with them for acting like a three-year-old who\u2019s immature; and then I\u2019m like: \u201cOh, stink! They\u2019re just acting like a kid.\u201d I often have to go back and say, \u201cI\u2019m really sorry. Mommy expected more of you than you were emotionally capable of doing in that moment.\u201d They don\u2019t always understand; they just say: \u201cThat\u2019s okay, Mommy. I forgive you,\u201d or something like that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> I think willful disobedience like you\u2019re talking about\u2014the not listening\u2014I mean, a three-year-old can obey.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Because a three-year-old can obey when they <em>want<\/em> something; and so clearly, a three-year-old can obey. If we suddenly said, \u201cDo this, and I\u2019ll let you watch <em>Paw Patrol<\/em> or\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Oh! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> \u2014you know? or \u201cDo this, and I\u2019ll give you a cookie,\u201d I mean, they <em>immediately<\/em> stop.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> They\u2019re like, \u201cOh, I can do this!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> They can be trained.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> They can be trained; and so what you want to do is train them to, not only obey for rewards, but to obey because Mommy and Daddy said so\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> \u2014which is ultimately because God said so\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> \u2014which is the foundation for understanding the gospel.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Now, Courtney, Maria said just a few minutes ago that it felt like <em>nothing<\/em> is working.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Encourage her. Have you gone through those times? I\u2019m sure <em>all moms<\/em> have gone through those times; right? [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes! I happen to be in a season of life where I feel like <em>nothing<\/em> is working if that makes you feel any better.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> But one of the things that I\u2019ve just been really struck by is, when you read the Bible, the story of Scripture is that rebellious people repeatedly disobey unless they have new hearts. I know that <em>all<\/em> of my children are unsaved, so they are acting consistent with how people, post-Fall, act. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s the struggle of God\u2019s heart with a rebellious people, who continue to reject Him, and turn against Him, and spurn His kindness toward them. I\u2019m not God, so I respond unlike God most of the time; and I want them to obey because, \u201cLook at all I\u2019ve done for you,\u201d basically. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI don\u2019t think I have prayed with such fervency for their salvation as I have begun to pray as I\u2019ve seen this complete disregard for obedience, and complete disregard for the things that God says, and a lack of remorse for sin. The only way that comes is with them having a new heart; the only way that comes is with Christ redeeming them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI have found that I can\u2019t do that. That is the hardest part of parenting\u2014I\u2019ve started to realize\u2014that I cannot save them. I so desperately want them to obey\u2014most of the time, sinfully, because I want my life to go better\u2014but what I really want is for them is to be saved so that they don\u2019t ultimately die and not have hope and life in Christ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right, right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> So it has just made me more fervent in prayer.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> What do your conversations with them look like when you\u2019re engaging them in discipline, but also trying to engage their heart?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes, so it ebbs and flows depending on\u2014full disclosure\u2014sometimes, I\u2019m not thinking in gospel language when I\u2019m disciplining.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> But when I feel like the Lord\u2019s really working in my own heart and made me want their salvation more than I want their obedience for my own comfort\u2019s sake, I\u2019ll ask them: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWho is the boss?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u201c<\/em>Mommy and Daddy are the boss<em>.\u201d <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u00a0<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWho <em>made<\/em> Mommy and Daddy the boss?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u201c<\/em>God made Mommy and Daddy the boss<em>.\u201d <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cHow many gods are there?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u201c<\/em>There is only one God.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThat means that <em>you<\/em> can\u2019t be God. You <em>want<\/em> to be God, because you\u2019re a sinner.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt ebbs and flows depending on the age of the kid, but the older ones can retain their attention for this.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> And:\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe reason that you want to be God is because we <em>all<\/em> want to be God. We need Jesus to give us a new heart to make us <em>want<\/em> God to be God and make us want to follow Him. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWe discipline you because sin is that serious. Ultimately, sin will <em>kill<\/em> you. Discipline hurts right now, whether it\u2019s a loss of privileges or other kinds discipline. While that is painful to you right now, the most painful thing that can happen to you is death and separation from God; and we don\u2019t want that.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBasically, we\u2019re just repetitively giving the gospel to them, over and over and over again, asking God to bear fruit in their life.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Parenting is exhausting. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> It is!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes! [Laughter] It is.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> It\u2019s so tiring; yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> I think I may need to take a quick nap! But we need to take a break; and on the other side, we\u2019re going to <em>continue<\/em> talking about how you survive those crazy, busy, cute, and tiring toddler years. Courtney gives us some advice. Stay tuned!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Radio Station Spot Break]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle: <\/strong>Welcome back to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I'm Michelle Hill. We are talking today about raising toddlers with Courtney Reissig and Maria Goff, trying to give some encouragement to moms out there, who are pulling out their hair because, you know, raising toddlers can definitely make parents question their sanity. At least, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve heard!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhen I sat down with Maria\u2019s daughter, Estelle\u2014I\u2019ve got to admit, \u201cI don\u2019t get it, because she\u2019s <em>so cute<\/em>!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous Recording]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> I am three old.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> You\u2019re three years old?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Yeah.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s pretty exciting!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> I\u2019m about to turn this age.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Oh, my goodness! How many fingers is that?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s four!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cA, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Wow!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Thank you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> You\u2019re being so polite!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Um, I love my Mommy and Daddy.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> You love them? How much do you love them?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> I love them <em>all<\/em>; yeah!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Are you always so good?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> You don\u2019t disobey Mommy and Daddy?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don\u2019t.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Okay; well, let\u2019s sit in the seat. Let\u2019s not move the chair around; okay?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Let\u2019s just keep the chair in <em>one<\/em> direction. Could we just sit in our seats\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Sure.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014not twirl the chair?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Sure.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Okay, <em>thank<\/em> you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhy don\u2019t you sit in the seat; okay? Okay, let\u2019s sit back down on this chair; okay? Don\u2019t lick the microphone; okay?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> I\u2019m not.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes, you kind of were; weren\u2019t you? Okay; but let\u2019s not do it again; okay?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> You\u2019re kind of a wiggly worm; aren\u2019t you, right now? Why don\u2019t you sit over here? Won\u2019t you sit over here?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Yeah.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Does Mommy do\u2014Does\u2014whoops! Okay, let\u2019s not move the chair anymore. Let\u2019s not move the chair back and forth. Let\u2019s just sit. Can we just sit still for a little bit? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Estelle:<\/strong> Sure.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Okay!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous Conversation]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> It\u2019s so great! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Okay; so Maria, every time I see Estelle, I am just like, \u201cShe\u2019s the cutest thing!\u201d And then I have ten minutes in a sound-proof room with her. Within those ten minutes, I had to correct her to sit in the chair, what?\u2014ten times?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> At least!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u201cDon\u2019t lick the microphone.\u201d [Laughter] I mean, it\u2019s not that I think of her as a bad kid; but it was <em>crazy<\/em>!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> It gave me just a <em>little<\/em> glimpse into your life. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> It\u2019s my life!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> How do you balance the tension? Because, to me, she seems like she\u2019s just too cute! You know, I\u2019m like: \u201cShe\u2019s just too cute! I want to squish her cheeks!\u201d; you know? And yet, how do you balance the tension between that\u2014being too cute\u2014and when she\u2019s stepping out of bounds?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Well, I mean, it\u2019s kind of like what Courtney said, where when you get into those moments when they\u2019re not being obedient, you kind of forget that they\u2019re cute.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> You do forget that they\u2019re cute sometimes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> It\u2019s like the cuteness\u2014you\u2019re not even thinking about the cuteness.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> No!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Honestly, if, you know, I\u2019m being real here; most of the time, it\u2019s more of a feeling of: \u201cI don\u2019t like this person right now,\u201d\u2014like, \u201cI do not like her right now.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> So you don\u2019t think about the cuteness; because all you can think about is: \u201cThey\u2019re not complying,\u201d and \u201cThey\u2019re inconveniencing my life,\u201d and \u201cI just want it to stop.\u201d The cuteness really doesn\u2019t come into play for me at all in those moments; it\u2019s just kind of like an on-and-off thing.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tEven sometimes, I would say, in stressful times, there are those moments that come, and those are gifts from the Lord, I think; you know, like when I traveled by myself with the girls to my grandparents\u2019. We were all sharing a room, and I was not getting sleep. This was like an old, ancient spring mattress. Every time Estelle moved at all, the whole thing just shook and woke me up. It was very high, so I was paranoid that Estelle was going to roll off. She was <em>really<\/em> excited that she got to share a bed with me; and during the night, there were those moments of, \u201cI\u2019m just really glad to be able to have this moment to snuggle her right now,\u201d or those kinds of things; you know?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Courtney, what brings you sanity, raising four little boys?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Margin; we haven\u2019t had naptime for everyone in a long time. When we lost naptime, that was really hard; I didn\u2019t realize how much I depended on some of that time. For me, just finding new ways to find margin has been helpful. I feel like each year\/each school year I\u2019ve had to figure out a new way. The twins are in school; and then Seth, my four-year-old, will be in school next year. He\u2019s in Pre-K right now, but he\u2019ll be in kindergarten. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFinding new ways to work with our new schedule is just a constant battle. We\u2019ve had to just really be intentional. Margin is helpful to me in the work I do in the home, and then margin is helpful to me in the work I do outside of the home through writing and teaching. We had a babysitter last year come for\u2014because we didn\u2019t have naptime, we had a babysitter come some; because we don\u2019t live near family\u2014and then just having pockets of time.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOne of the things I think, in our current culture\/in mom culture, there\u2019s a lot of talk about self-care. I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve heard people talk about that a lot. People talk about self-care as being an idol of sorts; but then, there\u2019s another side of Christianity, where it\u2019s like there\u2019s no self-care whatsoever, like you should not care for your body in any way, because it\u2019s all about dying to self. I kind of take a <em>middle<\/em> approach, where we\u2019re embodied humans. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> We are both body <em>and<\/em> soul, and so our souls need to be nourished. Our souls, sometimes, can be nourished by our body being nourished\u2014through sleep, or through recreation, or through rest, or through something that gives us life. That allows us, then, to be able to go and pour out in whatever way God has asked us to pour out. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think that there\u2019s room for nuance in the self-care discussion. If anyone is doing any type of work, whether you\u2019re a mom or in a really stressful job that\u2019s taking a lot of your time and energy, I think you need to find things that are going to replenish you so that you can go and do your work. We were made for Sabbath rest. We obviously know the Lord provides that, but He also provides means; we see that all throughout Scripture. He provides means for people, so that they can get the replenishment they need to then go and serve in the ways that God has called them to.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> I\u2019m thinking, Courtney, as moms are wading through all of these questions\u2014and we live in a culture, where we have answers at our fingertips; we have answers on Pinterest; we have answers on social media; on Twitter<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>; we have answers in books; we have answers everywhere!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> What are the voices that we should be listening to as we have these questions?\u2014or who have you listened to?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> I think the Bible is incredibly helpful, obviously; so that\u2019s where, I think, the first\u2014because I think a lot of parenting books are going to give you, sometimes, some formulaic answers of: \u201cIf you do this, then this will happen\u2026\u201d That\u2019s not always helpful; because, like I said, your kids are all different. The Bible\u2019s going to speak to the nuances of the differences of people. It will speak to the human heart. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPaul David Tripp\u2019s stuff on parenting\u2014his book on parenting\u2014was just really helpful and informative for me in helping me see that I am a sinner parenting sinners\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Maria:<\/strong> Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> \u2014which was just <em>huge<\/em>! Because once I started seeing my children as mini versions of me\u2014they struggle with the same things that I struggle with\u2014but they don\u2019t have the Holy Spirit, and they\u2019re also less mature than I am, that gave me a lot more sympathy for them in their struggles and less frustration with them.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI parent a lot more out of frustration than I would prefer to parent them in, but that was kind of a game-changer for me in helping me understand. And then, also, parenting alongside friends has been really helpful. I think, sometimes, it\u2019s a lot easier to listen to the voices on the internet of how we should parent; but they don\u2019t know us or our children. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPeople who are parenting in the trenches <em>with us<\/em> can sometimes speak to the things that we don\u2019t even see are there, and neither does that voice on the internet or a podcast. But our friends might know and see and can help us kind of parent in community. Then, having a couple of friends, who are a few years ahead of me\u2014I think if you get a little bit too far ahead of you, there\u2019s only nostalgia looking back. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> And nostalgia looks <em>good<\/em>!!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> It does! I\u2019m always like\u2014these people, who are like 15 years out; their kids are graduating from high school\u2014and they\u2019re like: \u201cOh, if I could just go back! It was so dreamy.\u201d Sometimes, I\u2019m like, \u201cIt does not feel dreamy to me at <em>all<\/em>!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut someone, who\u2019s two or three years ahead, still has that memory of what it was like; but then they also have the maturity of an experience. I feel like finding somebody, who\u2019s just a few years ahead is helpful. There are other resources, I think, out there; but Paul Tripp\u2019s book is helpful in <em>framing<\/em> it from the standpoint of, \u201cWe\u2019re just sinners parenting sinners.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> I think it gives us empathy for our kids, which is what they <em>need<\/em> in discipline.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Courtney:<\/strong> We are fighting, alongside them, for their souls.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s my friend, Courtney Reissig, who is an author and Bible teacher, and a mom of four. She\u2019s actually had several conversations with me, here at FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. We have those conversations online; go to FamilyLifeThisWeek.com.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAlso, she had mentioned Paul Tripp as someone she leans into for advice on parenting. Paul\u2019s a good friend of FamilyLife. I dug into our archives here and found a piece, where he\u2019s talking about parenting. Actually, he\u2019s talking about the ultimate source of authority in our lives while we parent. Here\u2019s Paul.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup><em> Today <\/em>Broadcast]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Paul David:<\/strong> I don\u2019t have any independent authority at all\u2014none! These children belong to God; they were created to live under the authority of God. I don\u2019t have the right to exercise authority any way I want to exercise it. If I\u2019m called to be an ambassador\u2014this makes me weak in the knees when I say this\u2014every time I exercise authority in the life of my children, it must be a beautiful picture of the authority of God.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhy is that important? Because my children come into the world not loving authority. What they love is self-rule; and so I want, by the way that I exercise authority, to show them that authority doesn\u2019t <em>end<\/em> freedom; authority <em>gives<\/em> freedom. Authority is a wisdom thing; it\u2019s a protective thing; it\u2019s a gracious thing; it\u2019s a loving thing; it\u2019s a faithful thing. And so, growingly, they come to <em>love<\/em> authority rather than hate authority. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tLet me say one other thing. Those little fights that you have with a four-year-old or a three-year-old have <em>nothing<\/em> to do with the topic. This is about authority! This child is saying to you, \u201cYou <em>will not <\/em>rule me!\u201d Now, when that happens, you can respond to that as an owner, and say: \u201cOh, yeah!? Look at the <em>size<\/em> of me! Look at the <em>size<\/em> of you!\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd you, right away, make it a horizontal thing; and you say, \u201cI\u2019ll do personal war with you to bring you under my rule.\u201d Parents do that all of the time! Christian parents do that, not knowing what they\u2019re doing. Or you can say, with a broken heart: \u201cHere\u2019s another demonstration that this one that I love is a rebel against the authority of God. That rebellion inside of them\u2014that desire to only be ruled by themselves\u2014is their doom! How can I be part of the ambassador\u2019s desire to rescue that child from [himself\/herself]?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Paul Tripp, talking with Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> about parenting and about where our ultimate authority is. Wow! I can totally see why Courtney Reissig leans into Paul\u2019s advice for parenting her toddlers. Of course, you can find more information on Paul and some of his other conversations on <em>FamilyLife Today.<\/em> Go to FamilyLifeThisWeek.com; that\u2019s FamilyLifeThisWeek.com.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMoms and dads, you are doing something great; you are rearing the next generation! Yes, I know that there are days that you wonder if they\u2019ll ever live to graduate high school\u2014or even preschool\u2014but you\u2019re doing what God has called you to do, and that\u2019s a very noble thing. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, it\u2019s in Deuteronomy 6, where Moses tells the Israelites: \u201cYou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might, and these words I command you to write them on your heart. Teach them diligently to your children and talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMoms, the day may seem long, and you may be weary; but thank you for loving your children and doing the hard work of training them to love God.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHey, thanks for listening! I want to thank the president of FamilyLife, David Robbins, along with our station partners around the country, and our team here, who make things happen. I could <em>not<\/em> do it without them, especially Megan Martin, who is the mom of preschoolers. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur program is a production of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, and our mission is to effectively develop godly families who change the world one home at a time.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI'm Michelle Hill, inviting you to join us again next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week.<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. 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