Actions Speak Louder than Words

Dating – a term that will be used within my house before I know it!  There will come the time that my little girl will be a young lady and will reach the chapter in life entitled” Dating”.  I think the chapter is entitled “Gray Hair” for the parents!  Nevertheless, the chapter will come and as parents we have to take that leap of faith and let them go.  

However, as parents we don’t have to let them go without preparation.  In fact, we shouldn’t let them go without a great deal of preparation.  I know – the kids are rolling their eyes at the thought of talking to you about dating, but despite the rolling they hear you.  It is a step in the preparation of dating.

Talking is one step; action is another step.  There needs to be action behind the words or could I use the phrase “Actions speak louder than words”.  Your actions can teach your son or daughter what dating is all about.  Your actions can teach them what to expect and how to be treated on a date.  Your actions can even bring about a lifetime of memories for your son or daughter.

Dads set the standard for what your daughter should expect on a date.  Schedule a date with your daughter.  Tell her the time and date she needs to be ready.  Ring the doorbell, have a flower in hand to give her when she answers the door, and then take her on a date.  While dating, demonstrate all the things she should expect from a young gentleman.  Don’t just date her once, date her multiple times.  Show her over and over again that she should expect no less than being treated with respect and dignity.

Moms set the standard for how your son should treat a lady as well as show him what kind of lady he should consider dating.  Have your son take you on a date.  Have him get ready for the date, come to the door and ask for you.  He can walk you to the car and open your door.  You should probably drive J  Give him money in advance so he can pay the bill and let him be the “man”.  This too should happen multiple times so he is well prepared when the time of dating transpires.    

While “dating” our children, we are not only teaching them what a date should be we are opening a door to a deeper relationship.  It is an opportunity to have honest conversations that can be light hearted as well as embark upon some tough subjects.  It is a time for our son or daughter to know they hold a special place in our heart.

The instructions given by God for parenting follow the model of talking and taking action too.  In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, the Lord gives His commandments and we are to impress them upon our children.  We are to do that by talking about it all the time.  We are also supposed to take action by tying symbols and writing it out.  In other words, our children are not going to learn by us just talking.  We need to put actions behind our words.   These actions lead to the words in Proverbs 22:6 – “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Cheryl