Jay Payleitner - Quick Tips for Busy Families: Sneaky Strategies for Raising Great Kids

K ids dont come with the word musician, athlete, scholar, entrepreneur, or artist stamped on their forehead. Rita and I have four sons, one daughter, four daughters-in-law, and six young grandkids. All with different gifts and personalities.

Raising our family, we assumed our five kids with the same genetic makeup would follow five similar paths. But during their formative years, we seemed to have three natural musicians, two artists, three voracious readers, two math whizzes, two techies, three writers, one scientist, three strategic thinkers, two dreamers, and five athletes. Even now, as life unfolds, we see a continuing evolution of passions and personalities.

Trust me, its a mistake to slap a label on a kid and put them in a box.

On the other hand, part of our job as parents is to help our children head in the direction consistent with their God-given gifts and passions. Sometimes that means nudging them back on track. Sometimes it means watching uneasily as their plans naturally derail. Sometimes all we have to do is stand back and applaud.

The key might be to encourage young people to throw themselves 110 percent into life. When their best efforts come up short, then theyll know to move on to another life pursuit. In other words, encourage exploration and discourage a slacker mentality.

Take heart. The next 143 chapters offer an array of invaluable, unexpected, comforting, quizzical, and sneaky strategies for helping your kids meet their full potential.

You may be called to enter their world. Or invite them to enter your world. You may be given an assignment to implement right away. You may read some strategy that seems insignificant and then suddenly it comes in handy in the not-so-distant future.

You will be reminded that the same child may need to be hugged or disciplined or rescued all in the same twenty-four-hour period. You will be challenged to be their best teacher and biggest cheerleader. Some chapters suggest things you need to give your kids: boundaries, compliments, chores, memories, secrets to success, and real-life lessons you learned the hard way.

Combined, these chapters are designed to celebrate and connect families, and help you bring out the best in each other.

Isnt that what you want? Every kid is different. But each one should be given every chance to live Gods best plan for their best life.