10 essential tips for every new parent

November 30, 2013 | Michael Foust | Posted in Parents of infants, Parents of toddlers, Parents of young children | Tagged child, Children, daddy, healthy eating, laugh, Parent, parenting, teach, too busy

The night before my first child was born, I did a lot of thinking, wondering what it would be like to be a parent.

What would it be like, I wondered, to hold my own child, to hear “Daddy” for the first time, to watch him or her swing on the playground with friends? It was so foreign to me, but now seems so natural.

If I could go back to that night in February 2008, I’d tell myself a few things. Some of the items on this list I learned by experience, while others I practiced nearly from the get-go. Here is what I would tell myself:

1. Parenting is far greater than you can imagine. Nothing on this earth compares to it, and you will regret waiting so long to become a parent. It’s better than all those things you think are fun: football, naps, eating pizza. You’ll soon discover you’d rather be a parent for one year than do all that other stuff for 100 years.

2. Don’t get too busy in life. You’re living in the days you’ll forever treasure, and this time will fly by faster than you can imagine. Limit your hobbies, your take-home work, and even how you are involved at church. Spend lots of time with your kids. Continue reading →

‘Can I help?’: 5 reasons to say ‘yes’ when children want to help with chores

November 7, 2013 | Michael Foust | Posted in Parents of toddlers, Parents of young children | Tagged Children, God, help me, Household chores, Parents, patience, Scripture, teaches children, work

Some of the most frustrating moments in my life have involved household jobs that required far more time than I initially envisioned. Fixing that stopped-up sink. Painting the room. Changing that broken ceiling fan chain switch. I consistently underestimate how long it will take.

Now that I have three young children, I have trouble finding time to do those chores – and when I do try to do particular household jobs during daytime hours, my oldest son, who is 5, wants to help.

Parents always face a dilemma when a young child wants to tag along and “help” with work. The time it takes to accomplish the chore easily could double or triple with a kid in the picture. Will the child truly help – or simply break something else along the way? Shouldn’t I just get my spouse to keep him or her away?

Lately, though, I’ve tried to allow my son to help me more with jobs and tasks, and I’ve discovered we’ve both enjoyed it.

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Go play outside: 9 keys to raising nature-loving kids

October 25, 2013 | Michael Foust | Posted in Parents of infants, Parents of toddlers, Parents of young children | Tagged Children, children would rather play, God's creation, indoors, nature deficit disorder, Parents, playing outdoors, Richard Louv, turn off the television, video game system

My parents likely didn’t set out to raise a kid who wanted to be outdoors – it just came natural for them. My dad had a garden, and my mom “put up” everything that was harvested. I, of course, was expected to help, not only with the garden but with the beehives on our property near the adjacent cotton fields in rural Tennessee. We were outside a lot.

Those are fond memories, of course, even though I didn’t particularly enjoy the humid days in the South. But somewhere along there, I learned to enjoy being outside.

I’m now a father, and I’m trying to instill into my three children an even greater love for nature – God’s creation – than I had at their age.

But these are challenging times. A British survey showed that children today spend 10 times more hours watching TV than they do playing outdoors. Another poll showed that only 40 percent of children would rather play outside than inside.

Video games and electronics are a big culprit. Another is decreased open space in urban areas. I’ve begun reading Richard Louv’s 2005 book “Last Child In The Woods,” which examines how we can save our children from what he calls “Nature Deficit Disorder.” His book has me wondering: What can we as parents do to keep our children from becoming indoor hermits?

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4 great ways to encourage your children

September 28, 2013 | Michael Foust | Posted in Parents of toddlers, Parents of young children | Tagged Children, David Jeremiah, encourage, encourage your children, focus on the family, Parents, Shadow Mountain Community Church

As a parent, have you ever been home and not really home? That is, have you ever been surrounded by your children, but so distracted by the things of this world – your job, hobbies, friends – that you’re really on another planet?

Pastor David Jeremiah asked those questions in a two-part Focus on the Family podcast, and then suggested four ways that parents can improve in their God-given roles of loving their children. He calls them the four ways to encourage your children. I enjoyed it and would encourage you to listen, too, here and here. (If you have an iPhone, download the Focus on the Family app. The broadcasts were on Sept. 23-24. There also is an Android app.)

Parents, he said, should give their children:

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5 ways parenting makes us less selfish – and why I’m thankful for the lesson

September 21, 2013 | Michael Foust | Posted in Parents of infants, Parents of toddlers, Parents of young children | Tagged Children, God, Jesus, lessons, parenting, Parents, putting others first, selfish, selfish ambition, Selfishness, selflessness

Remember those times in elementary school when you wanted that yummy pie on your friend’s plate?

“You gonna eat that?” you might say, putting your finger smack-dab in the middle of it.

“Well, not anymore,” they’d reply.

Or maybe you were on the receiving end of such silly antics, frustrated at your friend’s selfishness. Of course, very few of us looked at that delicious pie and wanted to give it to someone. No way. That was our pie.

I remember those days very well. I also remember the day, about four years ago, when I was eating dinner and had some food on my plate that was seconds away from being devoured. But my first child, my then-1-year-old son, had been eyeing it, and he wanted it, too. You see, there were no leftovers on the table. If I ate it, he would not get any more food. But if he ate it, I would not get any more.

What do you think I did? I gave it to him, without hesitation.

Throughout Scripture, God commands us to avoid selfishness, and for good reason; we all struggle with it. Paul tells us to do “nothing from selfish ambition” (Philippians 2:3). Peter tells us to humble ourselves (1 Peter 5:6). Jesus Himself tells us to deny ourselves and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). But it’s hard, isn’t it?

Nothing wipes selfishness out of your life like parenting. I didn’t think I was a selfish person as a bachelor, but in hindsight, I probably was. And I still am – we all are, to some degree — but I’m further along in my goal of selflessness than I was.

I’m thankful for what God’s taught me about selfishness. Here are 5 specific lessons I’ve learned:

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