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I recently had the opportunity to read and now review another National Center for Biblical Parenting product. This follow up book, Motivate Your Child Action Plan, has just been released. Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller have co-authored another convicting parenting guide. You do not need to have a copy of Motivate Your Child to use with the MYC Action Plan, though it is helpful. It was an excellent resource and I reviewed it as well. Motivate Your Child is referred to frequently in footnotes throughout the MYC Action Plan, letting you know when it would be a good time to read a specific chapter.
In identifying conscience prompters, I found a long list of traits of good character. Each is to be marked Already Strong or Needs Improvement. This section was a bit disheartening, and I know I wasn't the only reviewer who felt this way. While it was encouraging to know others are in the same boat, I also hated to hear how many good people are struggling with their kids. The enemy is dangerous and these are troubling times. This book really brings to mind the very real war we are engaged in for our children's eternities.
Thankfully, we were able to get some clarification from Dr. Turansky who said, "If you have a lot of things and wonder which direction to go first, just choose one that the Lord impresses on your heart. The interesting thing about the heart is that when you work on one area often you'll see other areas of the heart change as well." You are also encouraged to group like issues together. Fifteen traits which need improvement can easily become four general issues to tackle. That simplified matters so much when taken in smaller bites.
"Meetings" have become more frequent. I hold a conference with one boy or another every few days. Sometimes we just chat about our concerns and sometimes we have an all out brain storming session. The boys still tend to not be especially helpful here, I get a lot of "I don't knows." Something that has helped give me insight into their minds and hearts was when Daddy asked them some of those interview questions you sometimes see. How do you know Mom loves you? What is something Mom is not very good at? How old is Mom? (OK, that last one wasn't relevant, but the replies really cracked me up!) Some of their answers were eye-opening and gave me plenty to think about!
One of the things I've needed to do during our chats is try to remember to change up my vocabulary. The boys have heard "obey" and "be kind" so much, they just tune it out. I know they need more clear instruction and to hear words they aren't already sick of hearing.
I've been using far too much reactive parenting. I don't respond well to issues that arise, mostly because it's the same issues again and again.
Likely, the change in your child will require change in you.
page 14
I've found very clear encouragement and assistance in the MYC Action Plan in the form of dialog examples and fill-in sections for my own thoughts on each boys' specific needs (as well as my own!). This isn't a book that was written as a "one and done" read. I will be able to use the information to map a route to our character destination at each phase of their time with us in the family home.
Motivate Your Child Action Plan includes 12 audio session downloads which correlate with each chapter of the book. The chapters are
- Change in Forty Days
- Where Do You Want to Go?
- The Map to Get There
- Working Together
- A Place For Firmness
- Visioning Moves You Forward
- Teaching Shows the Way
- Spiritual Energy Provides Strength
- Coaching Sets the Attitude
- Building Motivation from Within
- Growing Together
- Good Theology Makes it Work
If you've never heard Dr. Turansky speak on radio shows or at a conference, I think you'll really enjoy listening to him and to Mrs. Miller.
Motivate Your Child Action Plan is a 162 page paperback published by The National Center for Biblical Parenting.
List Price $39.95, is currently $29.95 (a savings of 25%)
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