Consistency in Child Training

Consistancy in discipline

I have found myself needing daily reminders of what my goal is and the steps I need to follow to accomplish that goal, so I pulled out my copy of Raising Godly Tomatoes.
I will be the first to tell you that the BEST source of child rearing advice is God’s own Word, the Bible, but this book really helped me lear about consistency ad realistic expectations.

Change to Consistency
"I remember a specific day years ago when my oldest three children were still young. I was talking to a friend on the phone, and I remember telling the caller that I could hear my little daughter jumping on the couch in the other room, and that I "really should go stop her…." Then it hit me. Yes, that’s exactly what I needed to do in order to begin seeing some lasting results in my efforts to raise godly children. I needed to stop talking to my friends on the phone, and go correct my daughter every single time she needed it. That would be true consistency, and I hadn’t been doing it.
So, I decided to change. I resolved to make consistency my top priority. I stopped running unnecessary errands, stopped over-indulging in my hobbies, stopped making excessive social phone calls, and set my mind diligently and consistently, on training my children. I continued with the normal mandatory tasks of life, such as basic housekeeping, laundry, and cooking, but even as I did those things, I kept in mind that my children were my top priority, not a fancy dinner or a spotless house. I gathered my children close to me so I could always see and hear them, then I stopped what I was doing and promptly corrected them, every time they needed it."
Tomato Staking with Love
Beside making it possible to watch and correct your children, Tomato Staking makes it possible to nurture your children with love. Keep your children with you. Hug, kiss, sing, laugh and play with them. Include them in the things you are doing. Smile at them when they come to you to show you something. Welcome their attention. Answer their questions. Invite them into your lap for a cuddle. Let them crawl into your bed and snuggle up to you now and then. When they ask to help you, say, "Sure." Joke and laugh with them. Share with them your sense of humor. Be interested in the things they are interested in and be excited about their accomplishments as you tutor them in all of God’s ways. Get to know them and let them get to know you. Can a child who is the constant recipient of such joyful companionship ever doubt that he is deeply and profoundly loved? I don’t think so.
I know that all moms are beset with endless chores and duties, but these should never take precedence over your children. If you are Tomato Staking with an abundance of love, you will soon find that discipline consuming a progressively diminishing portion of your time, freeing you up for those chores. So especially when you are first starting out, set aside what tasks you can, and address your child’s needs for both discipline and love, whenever they arise.
Teaching obedience so you don’t have to teach anything else.
In our home, we begin training our children to conform to the image of God when they are still small by teaching only one thing – that they must always obey us with a willing and pleasant spirit. When we start with just that one thing, we don’t have to do much else. What could be more simple? Once your child understands obedience, everything else is pretty much taken care of. Henceforth, you can simply ask him to come to you and he will. You can ask him to pick up his toys and he will. You can ask him to get ready for bed and he will trot off and do so. You can even ask him to "stop crying," and he will stop. Simple. Obedience is really all you need to teach a little one.
From Chapter 3:-which you can read online here
http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com/ch03.asp

Currently reading: Raising Godly Tomatoes By L. Elizabeth Krueger