Some excerpts from "Raising Them Right" by Saint Theophan the Recluse.
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"The simplest means for confining the will within its proper boundaries lies in disposing children to do nothing without permission. Let them be eager to run to their parents and ask, "May I do this or that?"
Personal Note: Let Bubba know that I am his guardian and that I know best for him. He does not understand the world yet and will invariably get himself into trouble without me! Help him assimilate this understanding as quickly as possible.
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"Further, one must on no account give children books with corrupt concepts."
Personal Note: Vet absolutely everything before exposing Bubba to it, especially anything that was created in the modern era. My father exposed me to inappropriate content from the age of 3 and it quickly turned me into a deviant.
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"Prayer is engrafted very easily and acts not through the tongue but through the heart. This is why children willingly and without fatigue participate in prayers at home and in the church services and are happy to do so."
Personal Note: Look how easily Bubba has taken to prayer! It didn't take much encouragement, just consistency. We recite the Lord's Prayer before each meal, hands together, head bowed, and he's so keen to follow along! This will breed obedience, gratitude, and worship (in all of us).
#bookstr #orthodoxchristianity #parenting
