I recently came across the Trivium Pursuit materials on the internet, and they have revolutionized my understanding of homeschooling. Although I am not married yet, I have been seeking the best materials regarding raising up children to be holy and godly, as well as academically prepared for Kingdom expansion.
Jason S., Utah
I’m glad to hear you are preparing for your some-day family. The most important thing you can do for your future kids is to understand what it means to bond with them — not just the kind of bonding that occurs when they’re infants, but the kind of bonding that happens 24/7 all the way to adulthood.
Let me say this again. The best thing you can do to prepare for parenthood is to learn what it means to bond. Don’t take it for granted that you know. You most likely don’t.
The most important thing to prepare for parenting is to have a strong relationship with the Lord and your wife. Do not get married until that primary relationship is strong–You & your Creator. You will be crying out to the Lord, sometimes daily, for help and strength in your parenting.
So ideally you will have these 2 things in place FIRST. Being consistent and strong.
I’d love a more detailed answer to the bonding with our children issue. I know it is important and I do sense I fail DAILY. I stay home w/ 3 children and would love for some “guidance”.
Very briefly, bonding with an older child requires the parent to communicate to that child that the parent is on his side. That kind of thinking transformed my parenting. Instead of focusing only or primarily on what the child was doing (or not doing, I learned to focus on the child himself. As God told me one normal homeschooling morning, “Stop looking through him; look AT him!” I had been looking through my children to the goals I had for them. I have no regrets today that I listened to Him and dialed my expectations back. Love them and enjoy them as much as you can!
Well said, Nancy! Such a good reminder for me today!