When I googled "Obedience Training" I was surprised to only find links to Dog Obedience training. It seems that that is what the words now mean.
We have just completed a month’s focus on Obedience Training in our home (and yes, our dog was on the receiving end of some of that too) but we were really working on our children’s hearts. Another surprise I found while searching for lesson plans that a lot of Character programmes skip Obedience all together. It seems that the virtue of Obedience isn’t targeted so much these days but for our family it is a key virtue and one that we visit every so often in our intentional training.
Over the last month, with this focus, we have seen in improvement in the whole area of answering back. Of course, answering back isn’t obedience – to be obedient one needs to respond with no arguing, complaining or whining, you need to complete the task immediately, and report back when finished.
In order to combat the arguing, whining and general inappropriate answering back we revised the standard of only one response when Mum and Dad tell you something. That is, "Yes Mum" and then we expect a physical response of going and doing.
Having a focus for training our children in moral development helps us to target things even in a busy day. Discussing what a trait looks like (no whining, arguing or complaining etc) helps the children clarify how they are to be behaving.
Read more about our time with Obedience.
Ah. You haven't read Laying Down Rails yet! It addresses every issue regarding obedience you can imagine, calling them habits. It is so awesome. I really encourage you to read it. I think you, of all people I know, will really "get it"!
Blessings,
Melissa
PS Don't laugh, but we saw a picture on the news of an Australian mom who was attacked by a shark and I had to double ck that it wasn't you! 🙂 Glad it wasn't!!! heehheeee
I have Laying Down the Rails, ebook – ready to get bound so I can read it. I am looking forward to it.
As for sharks – thanks for thinking of me but I live in Crocodile country – so next time you hear of a croc attack……
Not to worry we are really careful where we go swimming!
Love
Belinda
I was just searching random blogs and found yours. Just so happens that yesterday my husband and I were researching and praying about true obedience and training. It's funny that only dog obedience comes up online huh? We've always had an 'obey the first time' rule of thumb, but recently as our boys get older we definately see more of an attitude issue! They almost always obey the first time, but now seem to add more sighs and grunts, a few eye rolls, maybe even try to get in the last word. Anyway, we've always said we didn't want to produce pharisees…but young men whose hearts are in the right place. I remembered reading a book about ten years ago that had a great phrase to repeat with your children "do what you're told, when you're told and with a good attitude" they used to have this memorized, but we began to slack off when we saw their geniune hearts for obedience…"like a dog returns to his vomit…" what a reminder that even with the best intentions, even our little ones are full of sin nature and need constant training and guiding. Glad to see I'm not alone!
Hey Belinda 🙂
Finally got around to joining your newsletter! You're doing a great job with your website and I'm looking forward to reading all your tidbits 🙂
Love,
Joy
This was a timely find for me. We are having to "crack down" on our 13 year old son, who has decided that everything is negotiable, especially the time he has to be home in the house in the evening. We reminded him that when we set a deadline it is to be obeyed and not argued, and that failure to do either will result in the next invitation from a friend to go do something being turned down. Ouch! Haven't had to do it yet, but am prepared to enforce if I have to.