Discipline

 

• I tend to try and avoid the word punish. It does not indicate any intention to make right, repair, or learn. Mistakes; anyone’s, especially your child’s, should be an opportunity to learn, not an opportunity to display power or control on your part.
• In what world would we not feel the need to give our children a chance to repair any accidental damage done? Do you not enjoy the same courtesy?
• In order for discipline to become a learning experince, it needs to consist of the following five things:
• Specific identification of the issue at hand.
• A description of the impact that behavior had on others.
• A suggestion for alternatives to that behavior.
• A clear statement of the consequence of that behavior.
• A statement of your expectation that your child will do better next time.

Repentance-

      When we repent and make things right with the Lord, we are allowing the atonement to take its place in our lives and in our hearts. If we do not allow our children the power to make their mistakes right, we are skipping out on a powerful lesson of the atonement and its tremendous correctional power. We need to teach our children the importance of leaning on the Savior and His great and eternal sacrifice, or else it was in vain.

Scriptural references:

Alma 7:11-12; Mosiah 13:28; Mosiah 4:6; Alma 42:15; Isaiah 55:7