Hello everyone,
I’ve been pondering something quite deeply lately and would so appreciate this community’s wisdom on the matter. With my son Alex now 10, I can look back and see so many areas where my husband and I were learning on the fly. Now, with baby Finley at 8 months, I feel a strong conviction to be far more intentional from the very beginning, particularly in laying a foundation for discipline that is deeply rooted in our Christian faith.
My core question is this: How do we begin to instill a spirit of respect and a heart for obedience before the challenging toddler years are fully upon us? I’m not talking about discipline for an infant, of course, but about creating an environment and a relational dynamic that sets the stage for future teaching. So much of the mainstream parenting advice, while well-meaning, seems to center on a version of autonomy that doesn’t always align with the biblical call to ‘honour your father and mother’. My goal isn’t about demanding blind compliance, but about nurturing a relationship with Finley where he understands boundaries and guidance as expressions of our love for him, and ultimately, God’s love and design for his life.
With Alex, we eventually found our footing, but I’m competitive in the sense that I want to give Finley the very best, most consistent start we can. We are already doing things like praying over him daily, playing worship music, and ensuring he sees my husband and I interact with gentleness and respect. However, I’m looking for more practical, tangible ideas. For those of you who have intentionally parented this way from infancy, what did it look like for you? How did you model authority and love in a way that translated into a more receptive heart when it came time for toddler-level correction and instruction?
I am so eager to learn from your successes and insights. I believe these early months are so foundational, and I want to be a good steward of this time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Blessings,
Betrina