Feeding Them The Leftovers

 

  "Who here likes leftovers", is the short phrase that sparked my interest in Parenting class today.  I can smell a good analogy a mile away! I learned a lot today and wanted to share it with you...so here's what we cooked up in class.  Yes...there will be puns..everywhere.
     What in the world does parenting have to do with leftovers?  Well for analogy's sake lets say that the leftovers are parenting styles and techniques that have been acquired by you from other parents or influences in your life.  So I ask the question, are you going to feed your child the Leftovers?  Most likely the answer is yes, leftovers are easy....they're just there sitting in your fridge and waiting to be used up!  You go to them when you really just don't have time to put together anything else.
     Leftovers don't always need to be bad.  Our parents styles of raising us can't all have been terrible!   Maybe you like the main dish and decide to reheat that one and then throw on a new side dish to put their point across in a new way that might better fit your child's taste...(haha taste...its puny).  Maybe you teach your child a new concept and then put it in the fridge and reheat it every day for a snack and hope that the new concept they learned sticks! Those leftovers sure aren't bad.  Sometimes there's a great message that comes along with the first meal, one we shouldn't forget.
     Leftovers can also be looked at in another way.  Did you ever find yourself getting the leftovers growing up?  Maybe your parents were super busy with a younger sibling a lot of the time and were really just worn out by the time they got to you?  Maybe mom and dad got the leftovers by devoting everything to you (which is not bad), but they never gave themselves time to nurture and continue growing their relationship (not so good).
     New idea!  Would you ever feed a house guest leftovers?  I tried to think of a highly esteemed person that has methods that I don't quite agree with and even if they came over for dinner I wouldn't feed them leftovers.  I'd always give someone a fresh meal.  Children are special guests in our homes, know them and what they need and cater to that (haha... ;) cater..like a food caterer..its pun-..ok whatever).  God lets us have his children in our homes for a short time here on earth.  Cooking them a new meal might take a little more time than reheating leftovers, but I promise that it will be worth it to treat them like the individuals they are and to give them the quality and time that they deserve.  So put that week old meatloaf down the disposal and fork out the fresh Chicken Alfredo!  If I were a parent...my parenting style would sooooo be Alfredo.