Hypocritical Parenting

Last night, I was standing at my back door with plate in hand, finishing off the last of my dinner while watching the younger boys play in the kiddie pool.  My daughter walked up to me with a corn muffin in her hand and I said, "We don't walk around with food in our hands.  If you are eating, you belong at the table!" 

"But, Mom...YOU'RE not eating at the table!"

Yes, she was right...I was being a hypocrite.

Have you ever yelled at your kids, "It's not nice to yell at each other!"

Or have you ever swatted your child's behind and said, "We don't hit!"

Do you get onto your kids about not making their beds while your own bed is undone?

Do you preach about eating healthy food so their bodies can be strong while sneaking a carton of ice cream after they go to bed?  (Guilty!)

Hmmm...hypocritical, right?

So, as parents, how do we not fall into the "Do as I say, not as I do" routine? 

I decided to look and see what the Bible has to say about hypocrisy.  There are many verses that address this, but the passage that stuck out to me, in regards to how we behave with our own children, is Matthew 7:4-5:

"How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (NIV)

I know this passage and I've always tried to apply it to my life...outside of my home.  But have I been diligent in making sure I apply it inside my home, with my husband and my children?  Sadly, I would have to say that the answer is a definite "no".

Did you realize that if you followed all of the rules that you have set forth for your children, parenting would make you an infinitely better person?  I believe that God has a plan for parents, beyond raising Godly children.  I believe He has given us children in order to change us...to challenge us to become more Godly!

Make a point today to take a second look at the rules you have in your home.

Are you following all of the rules?  Or are you being a hypocritical parent?  (I need to work on this!)

Are your rules reasonable, or are you expecting too much from your children?  If you can't follow the rule, is it reasonable to expect them to? 

Do you have so many rules that your children can't enjoy their home?  If so, which ones could you stand to get rid of?  Let's learn to not expect perfection from our children.  No one is perfect outside of Christ, least of all me!

Lord, please help me to see the areas in my life where I am being a hypocrite, whether with my children or my husband or outside of my home.  Change me, Lord, into the person that you created me to be.  Make me a good role model for my children in everything I do.  Help me to lead with actions instead of mere words.  Amen.

Blessings!
Brandi