As a mother, have you wondered about how to train your child?

Or maybe you feel your own parents have not trained you well?

Recently a young mother asked me, “Aunty, where do I start? Is there a list somewhere?”

So this article is for Neha and others like her.

Set aside time to read and meditate on these verses. Then read the poem (I wrote this when both my sons were 18 and 14 and I was praying about training them with skills for life!).

Let God show you how to train your little ones and get them ready to shine as lights in this world for Him. If God shows you what areas you can change, pray and work on those.

• Deuteronomy 4:1 and 9

• Hebrews 12:11

• 1 Timothy 4:7b and 8b

• Philippians 4:12

• Proverbs 22:6

• Matthew 11:29

A Poem to Read and Reflect On

 Skills for Life

He is leaving your nest at the end of the year

She will soon be married and gone.

Have you taught them the skills you (once) wished you had known

Can you do it now, before they’ve flown?

Do they do the pile of dishes, once in a while?

Lay the table and put out some flowers?

Are laundry and ironing part of their chores,

Do they do their bit for clean bright floors?

Do they make friends easily and love all they see?

Do they treat others kindly or is it just me, me?

Do they treat elders with respect and speak in soft tones?

Do they admire nature, the flowers and the ferns?

Do they have a list of hobbies to see them through life?

Do they read, paint, play music to their heart’s delight?

Do they sit down to write letters or send out some cards?

Do they help with the cooking, maybe the veggies dice?

Are patience and kindness virtues they’ve learnt?

Do they willingly always give more than they get?

Do they save as they spend and value each cent?

Do they forgive or are they, in anger, upset?

There is more to life than exams and marks

More than physics, chemistry and math

Let's teach them to value each other with grace

Making the world a loving special place!

Do they study God’s word and come to church too?

For Sunday School youth group, do they happily queue?

Help them look to the Lord and put him first

God bless you dear mothers and your little nest!