children can tell who the greatest is in the family...
those that think it is them, haven’t a clue as to who it is.
I'm thinking community and culture is achieved by the first examples. All things in moderation.
I sure do agree with that!
It’s understandable that a newborn infant might take am immediate priority, temporarily. When they start growing teeth and begin biting on mom’s breast, a sharp NO! and pulling away of that breast begins the process of setting limits, with parent in control. I actually know a lady who wouldn’t do that and then wondered why her kid was out of control at 18 months old.
If you can’t or won’t control a 2 year old, then you aren’t going to be able to control a 12 year old.
You could look at it that way. However, when the general thinks "I am the most important person in the army" or the CEO, or the teacher, etc., then you have a problem in the making. Egoism in parents (especially those boomers!) isn't a "community" or "culture."
Heres' a nice thought from Dostoyevsky:
There is no more ceaseless or tormenting care for man, as long as he remains free, than to find someone to bow down to as soon as possible. But man seeks to bow down before that which is indisputable, so indisputable that all men at once would agree to the universal worship of it. For the care of these pitiful creatures is not just to find something before which I or some other man can bow down, but to find something that everyone else will also believe in and bow down to, for it must needs be all together. And this need for communality of worship is the chief torment of each man individually, and of mankind as a whole, from the beginning of the ages.
The important people in a family is the family as a unit.
Unfortunately for far too many broken homes, there is no mother or father.
Only a single parent. And so the kids are most important. By default.
bkmk
Parents should approach management of their families based on what is best for their daughters and sons.
John nailed why millennials feel entitled. I’ve often blamed this on parents who thing they are doing the right thing but in fact are hurting their children.
Self, job, Marriage,....... children, in that order.
Could the most important person in the family be.... GOD?
We are “wired” that the offspring are the most important because without them the species dies out.
Even chickens know this (one of our hens died, successfully sacrificing herself so her chick could escape a predator, ditto in another instance for our best rooster.)
Now, granted, humans are certainly in no danger of dying out @ present, but, it was once true (last period of glaciation), and someday it will be true again.
This does NOT mean the young rule!
This is how we get helicopter parents.
I know more than parent that calls their child in the morning to schedule their child’s day, then calls them at least 5 times throughout the day to guide them. They’ve raised illiterate idiots.
These same parents drive old cars while buying their children new ones. “But little boo needs her new car.” Meanwhile, the parents desire things like a new car, a boat, or a vacation but complain how they can’t afford it.
The number one job of a parent is to teach their children to be independent.
That means giving them some freedom, from day one.
When parents believe their kids to be the most important thing in their lives, they stifle that freedom and independence.
I know of which I speak. Our youngest is driving home right now to get the rest of his stuff to move several states away. All of ours were on their own by 19 or 20.
One is in Germany right now visiting friends.
That and teaching them a strong Christian worldview will almost certainly prevent a snowflake.
I will respectfully disagree. Children are a gift from God Almighty. People who dont take that responsibility seriously make horrible parents. I have launched one truly fine young gentleman into the world, and have two sweet, smart, funny, honorable children on the deck. You only get a few years to shape them into successful people. If that isn’t your primary mission during that time, you are wasting theirs.
Parents May consider the children most “important” in a family, but that does NOT mean the children make the rules, or determine the values.
Why ... YES, he does!
Ephesians 5:
22 Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord: 23 Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it: 26 That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life: 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. 28 So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church: 30 Because we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh. 32 This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband.
He continues, regarding children:
Ephesians 6:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just. 2 Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with a promise: 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest be long lived upon earth. 4 And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and correction of the Lord.
What more is there to say?
If you do what’s best for your kids and their future, they’ll be all right. Parents loving each other. What does that mean? If each parent loves truly, as in what real love is, there will be harmony in their home. How many people actually love that way, selflessly? If we could all be perfect, nobody would have any relationship problems. Very complicated issue. Let me ask one question -— if your wife or husband, and your kid were about to be killed, and you could save one, which one would you save?