• Home
  • Get Savannah’s Weekly Email!
  • Get to Know Savannah
  • Get Your Book Swag
  • My account
  • Cart

Savannah Scott Romcom Author

The best parenting advice I ever heard is so simple it’s crazy

August 10, 2019 By Patty Leave a Comment

10 Aug

As the fall approaches, I’m preparing for church responsibilities, homeschool, and the overall shift in gears that lies ahead. As a part of women’s ministry leadership, I’ve been having coffee dates to talk about how we can best minister to women in our congregation. I sat in Dunkin Donuts with a woman whose children are in their late 20s the other morning. As we talked, I shared about my writing, speaking, and coaching ministry to moms. She said something powerful in the middle of our conversation: “I think there are only two absolutes when it comes to parenting advice.” Oh, she had my attention then.

I heard the best parenting advice at the donut shop

photo courtesy of maria vernigora

You know, as young moms, we often grasp for a plan or method to help us raise our children. We are deluged with books, websites, and the opinions of friends and relatives. We get input about how we should do everything from feeding our infant, arranging for sleep, and handling misbehavior. It’s overwhelming to say the least. Parenting young children could be in par with some of the worst episodes of Fear Factor! We bear the responsibility of their physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Of course we want a plan and protocol! Some days I wouldn’t mind if The Nanny showed up at my house to take over and get things ship-shape.

Leaving God in the Dust

As I sat with this woman in the donut shop, she and I talked about how each of our children is so different. She shared how she got accustomed to the strong will of her older daughter. Then her son was totally a different child altogether. The approaches that worked with one child didn’t apply to the second. I reflected, “We just love directions, don’t we?

I mean, if God would just give me a step by step guide, I’d be off and running to do my very best. But, that’s the trouble. I’d look behind myself and find God in the dust. When I get a clear cut plan, I often lean on the plan instead of leaning on Him. It’s amazing how quickly that happens. Ultimately, motherhood has stripped me of my illusion of control and given me so many lessons in dependence and trusting God.” She wholeheartedly agreed.

The best parenting advice is simple

The First Simple Rule of Parenting

That’s when she shared her thought about the two absolutes of parenting advice. She said, “First of all, we need to be the person we are trying to encourage our children to become. They will always do what they see us doing more than they will do what we say.” For years I’ve been sharing this point with moms in the famous quote, “More is caught than taught.” It’s so true.

We can try to tame our children’s tempers, yet, how do we respond to stress and frustration? As we tell our children to put God first, where is He in our daily priorities? We can tell our children to be kind, patient, thoughtful, and every other good thing, yet how do we act when we think they aren’t looking?

I pondered the importance of her advice. The first place for us to “work” on in motherhood needs to be in our own hearts, with God. The more healing and growth we experience there, the more will spill over onto our children. As we abide in Him and His love for us, we are transformed. That transformation bears witness to our children in ways we can’t imagine.

Our children learn to model what we do

photo courtesy of park on pixabay

We Can Change Our Parenting Habits

With my first born, I had issues carried over from childhood. Though I had done a lot of work in therapy and with my mentor, I still struggled with anger and impatience. The beauty of God’s work through motherhood is that my oldest son has seen me continue to pursue growth. I have become a gentle and patient mom – over time. He has seen the hand of God active in my life and seen me change over the years.

I would love to press a delete button on some of my explosive seasons, but I know God has done much to redeem and progress us all from those places. Even if we aren’t where we’d like to be, we can move forward with God’s help. We can look back a year from now and say, “I’m not where I was.” Our children will be watching our cooperation with God and the changes He brings about.

The Second Simple Piece of Parenting Advice

The second thing my friend said was “… and we have to raise our children to know God.” That’s it. We have to be the example we want them to follow, and we have to raise them to know God. I thought about the simplicity of having these two beacons on the horizon as we mother our children. Doesn’t it make things come into laser focus?

I mean what if we were to wake up thinking: I need to be the light in our home, letting Jesus shine through me as I walk well with Him, and I need to point my children towards Him. The deepest parts of motherhood are not about issues like whether “to spank or not to spank.” Motherhood doesn’t hinge on whether we use cloth diapers or disposable. The heart of motherhood involves being the mom God is empowering you to be, and pointing your children’s hearts towards Jesus in ways that connect and draw them near.

Leading our children to God is one of the two most important things

photo courtesy of jamie weibel

Last month I surveyed some moms. One of the questions I asked was what their biggest goals were in motherhood. So many said something like, “Raising my children to know and follow God.” I was humbled and blessed by those answers. 

So, keep it simple, Mama. Put these two pieces of parenting advice securely in place and watch your motherhood move to another level of focus and intentionality. Be the person you want your children to become. Keep pointing their hearts and minds upwards towards God. 

I’ll be here cheering you on as you do.


Would you like to receive weekly encouragement for your motherhood? Get a little inspiration, one book recommendation, and one recipe a week in my weekly letter.

    Share
    Pin
    Tweet
    Share

    Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Child Discipline, children's spiritual growth, parenting tips, Setting the Example, wisdom for moms

    About Patty

    I write to encourage your heart, feed your soul, and give you wisdom for your life. Motherhood is my passion. I've been married to my surfer/skater husband for over 20 years.  We have two boys and a home full of neighbor kids most days.

    « Keeping a secret from your husband is the best thing you can do for your marriage
    Three quick things you can do to overcome decision fatigue »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Hi, I’m Savannah …

    I’m a Zumba dancing, coffee sipping, road tripping girl and I love writing closed-door romcom!

    My stories make you laugh, smile, and sometimes keep you up past your bedtime chanting the famous reader mantra, “just one more chapter.”

    I hope you find your next sweet escape in one of my books.

    You can read more about me on my “Get to Know Savannah” page.

    I love hearing from you! Sign up for my weekly email, join my reader group on Facebook, or follow me on Instagram so we can connect more often.

    Want to talk books, books, books?

    I'd love to bless you with my weekly sweet reader email!

    Please wait...

    Thank you for signing up!

    I’m getting way, way too excited for all of you I’m getting way, way too excited for all of you to read Tasha + Pierre’s story in EIGHT DAYS!!!

This section of the story is so fun … and 🔥 … they’ve got rules. They have to. It’s a marriage of convenience. But, what about when their feelings get in the mix? 

This line: “I would guess that would be up to us.” 
Oh, girl. Give me a suave Frenchman in a cozy fall town in the blueridge mountains any day. 

QOTD: Do you love when a romance has rules? 

#sweaterweather #sweaterweatherseries #anotsofictionalfall #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #authorlove #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #closeddoorromance #lovestory #harvesthollow #fallbooks #multiauthorseries #multiauthorproject #bookstagrammers #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #itsfallyall #northcarolinaisgorgeous #newrelease #wipwednesday
    It’s HERE! 🍂🍁 A Not So Fictional Fall pap It’s HERE! 🍂🍁

A Not So Fictional Fall paperback copies!

Y’all I’m swooning hard over all these Sweater Weather covers. Aren’t they gorgeous?

I’m still waiting for @carinataylorauthor and @jennyproctorbooks copies to make my collection complete. 🤍

I just wanted to share this unboxing with YOU since Tasha + Pierre’s story releases in nine days (10/5). Consider this your official #tuesdayteaser 🍂🔥

#sweaterweather #sweaterweatherseries #anotsofictionalfall #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #authorlove #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #closeddoorromance #lovestory #harvesthollow #fallbooks #multiauthorseries #multiauthorproject #bookstagrammers #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #itsfallyall #northcarolinaisgorgeous #bookunboxing
    Woo hoo! It’s TODAY! And Julie Christianson’s Woo hoo! 
It’s TODAY! And Julie Christianson’s Sweater Weather book, Faking the Fall, is out! 

I’m with Julie ( and three other Sweater Weather authors) in Florida right now. We’ll be live with her book later today! 

Go grab this sweet story. Julie said it’s one of her faves she’s ever written. 

And, here I am, playing bookstsgrammer again. I’m happier with my skills this time. And with that burnt orange blanket I bought for staging photos … and for curling up with these books and a warm drink. 

It’s officially fall, y’all!!! 
It’s Sweater Weather! 

#sweaterweather #sweaterweatherseries #fakingthefall #juliechristiansonbooks #savannahscott #authorlove #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #closeddoorromance #lovestory #harvesthollow #fallbooks #multiauthorseries #multiauthorproject #bookstagrammers #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #itsfallyall #northcarolinaisgorgeous @juliechristiansonauthor is amazing! 🤍
    Woooo hoooo! Two more weeks til you get to meet Pi Woooo hoooo!
Two more weeks til you get to meet Pierre & Tasha and fall in love with their story in A Not So Fictional Fall. 

Are you LOVING the Sweater Weather series? 

I’m reading Courtney Walsh’s book right now. And I can not wait to read Julie Christianson’s book, Faking the Fall that comes out TOMORROW!! 

Who has their kindle locked and loaded for that story? Who is getting the paperback? 

So far I have four out of seven of the paperbacks in this Harvest Hollow, cozy, warm, fall vibe, romcom series. 🤍 

Stay tuned for attempt #4 of Savannah Scott plays bookstagrammer tomorrow gif Julie’s release. And … I’m with her in FLA, so we are going live for launch day! 

#sweaterweather #sweaterweatherseries #anotsofictionalfall #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #authorlove #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #closeddoorromance #lovestory #harvesthollow #fallbooks #multiauthorseries #multiauthorproject #bookstagrammers #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #itsfallyall #northcarolinaisgorgeous
    So, did you know there are unpublished first chapt So, did you know there are unpublished first chapters of Townshipped? 

If you’ve read Aiden & Em’s story, you will love this peek into Mallory’s life before she came “crashing” into Aiden’s world and heart. 

You can get these bonus chapters for FREE when you sign up for my weekly newsletter. And that’s a GOOD thing. Because, not only do you get the bonus chapters , but you get sneak peeks at my writing, book recs, and special subscriber-only giveaways. 🤍

To sign up for my newsletter and to get the free bonus chapters, go to the link in my bio. 🤍

#townshipped #townshippedbook #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromance #smalltownromcom #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #brideontherun #runawaybride #goatsofinstagram #romcomreaders #romcomreadersofinstagram #sweetromance #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #closeddoorromance #bookstagram #lovestories #goatsgoatsgoats #bookstagrammers #shippers #Imashipper #romcom #smalltownromancebooks
    Congrats to Micah at @micahs.bookshelf !!!! You wo Congrats to Micah at @micahs.bookshelf !!!! You won the Townshipped giveaway. 

It’s a MONTH full of giveaways. Some months are. I’ve got another one coming with Jordan at @the.balcony.bookworm for Are We There Yet, starting TOMORROW! 

I’m so grateful for all the book love for Townshipped this week. 🤍

Stay tuned for Censorshipped Week next … in December! 

#townshipped #townshippedbook #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromance #smalltownromcom #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #brideontherun #runawaybride #goatsofinstagram #romcomreaders #romcomreadersofinstagram #sweetromance #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #closeddoorromance #bookstagram #lovestories #goatsgoatsgoats #bookstagrammers #shippers #Imashipper #romcom #smalltownromancebooks #bookgiveaway #bookswag #giveawaywinner
    It’s Friday of Townshipped Week! I hope you’ It’s Friday of Townshipped Week! 

I hope you’ve entered the giveaway (see Monday’s post), checked out the swag sale (use code: Townshippedtour for 10% off townshipped themed merch), and played Townshipped Would You Rather (Thursday’s post). 

Today I’m sharing a #firstfeelingsfriday quote from Townshipped. 

Mallory can’t remember who she is, but she wakes to this. It could be worse. Am I right? 

QOTD: what book boyfriend would you want to wake to if you woke up not knowing where you were or who you are? 

#townshipped #townshippedbook #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromance #smalltownromcom #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #brideontherun #runawaybride #goatsofinstagram #romcomreaders #romcomreadersofinstagram #sweetromance #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #closeddoorromance #bookstagram #lovestories #goatsgoatsgoats #bookstagrammers #shippers #Imashipper #romcom #smalltownromancebooks
    Follow on Instagram

    Copyright © 2023 · Patty H. Scott · All Rights Reserved