Trying to be a better example for my boys but some days I lose my patience. Today I yelled at them over spilled juice and immediately felt convicted. I apologized and prayed with them about it but I keep falling short. How do you guys handle staying patient and showing Christ's love when you're exhausted? I want them to see grace in action, not just hear about it.
I struggle with this too. Some days I just lose it over spilled milk or whatever. The goal isn't to never get frustrated - it's to handle it better next time and show them grace like we're asking God for grace.
Real talk - you're human. Yelling at them doesn't make you a bad dad or a bad Christian. What matters is what comes after. Do you apologize and talk about it with them?
You modeling that you mess up and then work to be better is actually the most Christian thing you can do. Don't be too hard on yourself.
This is the hardest part of the job for me too. I think it helps to remember that modeling Christ doesn't mean being perfect, it means showing repentance and grace. When I lose it with my boys, I make sure to come back later and tell them I was wrong, that my frustration wasn't their fault, and that I'm working on it. They see the effort.
Real talk - some days I just tell my kid I need a timeout before I say something I'll regret. We go to separate rooms for 10 minutes. It teaches them that managing emotions is a skill, not a character flaw. Been life changing for us.
The fact that you're thinking about this and wanting to do better is what actually models Christ. Kids need to see that even their dad struggles and works on it. That's way more powerful than pretending to be perfect.
Man, I feel this in my bones. I yelled at my kids yesterday over spilled juice and immediately felt like garbage. I've been trying to apologize more and let them see me actually work through it instead of just pretend it didn't happen. They're learning how to handle their own frustration by watching how we handle ours.
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The fact that you're asking this question shows you care about being better. That matters way more than the frustration. My boys have seen me mess up plenty of times and what sticks with them is that I admitted it and tried again.