If I listen, not even that carefully, I can still hear Mom’s blood-curdling cry: “Charles Wayne…!”
Or on those rare occasions when I was out of line, Mom would say, “You and I are gonna go round and round, buster!”
Makes me dizzy just to think about it!
I often ponder my childhood and teenage years, realizing now what my parents were doing: responsible parenting! The parameters were categorically clear; the expectations in living black and white! Wow, am I ever thankful for my firm parents — even if I do get a little dizzy thinking about those early years!
All you parents and grandparents reading this devotional, consider this: Never, ever, have I had someone tell me they regret having firm parents — a mom and/or dad who “laid down the law” — and consistently enforced it when violated.
Of course I’m not referring to abusive situations, just those where children know what’s expected of them — with swift and certain follow-through should they disregard Mom and Dad’s expectations.
Not long ago I was talking with a friend who grew up on our same street. Oh, how I envied him in my teenage years — he had no parameters, just freedom to do as he pleased. He confided in me that as looks back on his youth days, he now wishes his parents had been like mine: There were expectations — and consequences when they were not met! He has paid a high price for his parent’s irresponsibility.