Our “Three-legged Stool”
Because parenting is such a huge subject with countless parts and pieces, I came up with the Three-legged Stool approach. It is a simple and easy-to-remember way to organize and understand the essential parts of parenting. It also shows us how these three foundational “legs” connect to and depend on each other.
Building our three-legged stool
Relationship is the first "leg."
Family Structure and Culture is the second "leg."
Development & Discipline is the third "leg."
Each "leg" has its own purpose. Each "leg" has its own job to do. BUT, no "leg" can do its job without the support of the other two. If a "leg" is too weak, the stool will break or fall over.
RELATIONSHIP "LOVING OUR CHILDREN"
The Heart Connection: Our children need to know they are loved and valued.
Building Identity: Our children need to know who they are.
Relationship always comes first. It is the foundation and heartbeat of our families. Healthy heart, healthy family. Read more . . .
FAMILY IDENTITY AND STRUCTURE "CREATING OUR FAMILY'S WORLD"
Family Identity: Who are we as a family?
Goals: What are we trying to accomplish?
Roles and Responsibilities: Who does what?
Family Meetings and Family Rules: How will we live together?
Many times our success or failure as parents happens right here and we don’t even know it. Read more . . .
DEVELOPMENT & DISCIPLINE "MOVING OUR CHILDREN FORWARD"
Principles: Six foundational concepts
Methods and Techniques: mastering the parenting tools we need
Direct, face-to-face challenges: Holding our ground and more
Disciplining our children will be significantly more difficult than it needs to be if our children are not experiencing our love and our family structure is not providing the guidance it should. Read more . . .
Putting It All Together
Relationship: Do our children feel loved and valued? Are our parent/child relationships helping or undermining our parenting efforts?
Family structure and culture: Has our family structure established understanding, and hopefully agreement, on all the important issues?
Development & Discipline: Is our child outmaneuvering us? Are we in control of our own behavior? Read more . . .