“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

- Proverbs 15:1

I am daily challenged by this verse in my parenting. So often I don’t even think about the way I say things to my littles. I have realized though that when we’re in a heated moment and I lose my temper, I yell, I enter into a battle with them – it only makes it worse. My children fight back with them same intensity I give and they react with anger. I need to understand that my children cannot make me angry. I own my emotions and should not give them that much control over me. Aren’t I the parent and the one in control? By allowing myself to get angry, and even worse – to show it – I lose authority and control over my children. They become the stronger ones in our relationship, and they know it. It’s a difficult thing to maintain a calm demeanor when we feel our authority has been challenged, we are being ignored, or our children are acting out. But in the end a gentle word will teach our children proper reponses to situations. It will foster a better relationship with our children. And it will please our Heavenly Father as well.