The thing that causes me the most stress in parenting is when I see my kids struggling with the same things that I struggled with when I was their age. When I see my own issues showing up in my kids, I want to jump in and fix it. If I’m not careful, my frustration causes me to overreact to the situation and actually make things worse.
Instead, I’m trying to learn to remember what it was like to be their age. I have to show empathy by walking in their shoes so I can better understand why they do what they do. By remembering my past experiences and using them to better relate to my kids, I’m finding that God ends up teaching all of us.
So, the next time your child’s struggles cause you anxiety, be prepared…God may be wanting to use the situation to mold and shape both of you.
Eric Echols 
One thought on “Parenting Empathy”