Thank you for downloading the Focus on the Family Parenting Podcast. You can find more helpful advice at

Focus on the Family.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . It's so easy for us as parents to teach our kids a list of do's and don't and it

takes so much more time and energy to teach them principles and wisdom and how to

apply those to life.

And today we're going to discuss some common shortcuts

that parents make when we're teaching our kids

and we'll also have some principles

you can teach your children that will help them throughout

their lives. I'm John Fuller with Dr. Danny Werther who leads our parenting and

youth department here at Focus on the Family. We'll hear from Danny in a moment

or two. First we're going to hear a bit of a conversation

Jim Daly and I had with authors Michael Anderson and Dr. Timothy Johanson who talked

about why you shouldn't tell your kids to do your best.

In the book you have a section where you talk to parents about being careful with what they say.

Now every parent just went ouch because careful with what they say.

Now, every parent just went, ouch,

because often we as parents will say things

that are right out in the open very quick,

and then you regret saying it.

And so there's grace for that situation,

but to help us think differently,

you mentioned a few of these phrases that we as parents commonly use.

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