Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down: A Balanced Approach of Correction + Connection in Discipline
The Intentional Parents Podcast
Intentional
5 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 30 April 2025
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Do you ever find yourself at a loss when it comes to disciplining your children as they move beyond the toddler years? Do you wish you could instantly curb the pushback, mood swings, and moments of disrespect?
This week, we discuss our Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting resource, which reframes how we respond to our children’s behaviors by emphasizing both correction and connection.
After all, God has hard-wired us all for connection — and this should dictate how we relate to our kids, no matter the circumstances. Looking to Jesus as the model for demonstrating both kindness and firmness, we emphasize not only the importance of each, but also the order in which we respond to outbursts or misbehavior.
We explore the two extremes we often see in parenting: 1) the authoritarian, emotionless “because I said so” style focused solely on squashing the behavior and 2) the overemphasis on emotional validation without any sense of firm boundaries or consequences.
So how do we strike that balance? Tune in to find out!
Scripture Mentioned: Romans 11:22, Romans 2:4, Proverbs 3:11-12, Proverbs 22:6, John 1:14, Psalm 94:19, Proverbs 15:1 + 4, Proverbs 29:17 + Matthew 11:28
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We want to invite you to the intentional motherhood retreat, 2025. |
| 0:05.2 | For the past two years, hundreds of mothers from around the country have gathered with us for a weekend of worship, |
| 0:12.1 | teaching, and connection, and really to seek God together. |
| 0:15.8 | And we can't wait to do it all again at this year's motherhoodreat, this time in Portland, Oregon, October 23rd through 25th. |
| 0:25.0 | So come join us. We can't wait to see you. |
| 0:32.3 | You're listening to the Intentional Parents podcast, brought to you by Intentional. Intentional is all about spiritual |
| 0:38.9 | formation in the family. We desire to bring biblical hope and practical hope. Enjoy this week's |
| 0:45.4 | conversation. Welcome back to the intentional parents podcast. |
| 1:02.3 | Do you ever find yourself at a loss when it comes to disciplining your kids as they move beyond the toddler years? |
| 1:03.9 | Anyone been there? |
| 1:10.3 | Do you wish you could instantly curb the pushback, mood swings, and moments of disrespecting your kids? |
| 1:11.8 | Anyone here? Yes, and amen. |
| 1:17.3 | We're going to talk about this parenting strategy today that has been super life-giving to Elizabeth and I called bottom up versus top-down. I'm excited about this because with this we created a resource. |
| 1:23.3 | And when I say we, I don't mean me. I mean, Elizabeth has done a great job. A little round of |
| 1:27.2 | applause team for Elizabeth. |
| 1:29.0 | Yes. |
| 1:29.4 | If you're in your car, please stop. |
| 1:30.9 | Take your hands off the wheel and clap. |
| 1:32.9 | Beautiful. |
| 1:34.0 | But an amazing resource for you to actually go download and read. |
| 1:37.4 | So we're going to talk about some concepts today. |
| 1:39.7 | And hopefully just wet your appetite. |
... |
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