Quotes from Tedd Tripp

Moms and dads tell the children what to do. Kids tell their parents their wishes and dreams.

When we allow our children to become independent decision makers we give them a false idea of liberty and a mistaken notion about freedom. 

The only safe guide is the Bible. It is the revelation of a God who has infinite knowledge and can therefore give you absolute truth. God has given you a revelation that is robust and complete. It presents an accurate and comprehensive picture of children, parents, family life, values, training, nurture, and discipline - all you need to be equipped for the task of parenting.

The Bible ascribes reasoning and thinking to the heart because the heart is the center of one's being. The heart is where we think, grieve, rejoice, love, hate, desire, fear, pray, and so forth. "The heart is the wellspring of life" (Prov. 4:23).

Instructing a child's heart is not simply transferring data from parent to child. It is impressing the heart with truth. Solomon

Parents tend to see their children's behavior in very naive terms. We see the fight over a toy as simply a fight over a toy, when actually it is a failure to prefer others. It is selfishness. It is saying to others, "I don't care about what your wishes are; I want to have what I want." It is a determination to live in the world in a way that exploits every opportunity to serve oneself.

recently asked a young lad of ten what would get him into the most trouble, breaking a valuable vase or disobeying his parents' clear directive. Without a moment of hesitation, he said it would be far worse to break a cherished vase. This lad has learned the values of the home. He perceives an unspoken value that says prized vases are of greater concern to his parents than disobedient boys. These values are based on hollow and deceptive philosophies.

Your greatest need is to understand deep truths from the Bible. Solid parenting skills are built on solid truth.

You should help them learn to make peace.

You should teach that a soft answer turns away wrath.

Train your children to use occasions when hurt to learn how to love God and deepen their trust and confidence in him.