The Incredibles is ostensibly a movie about a family of superheroes, but in many ways, it’s a movie about surviving parenting. My favorite character is Auntie Edna. She is eccentric, brilliant, and wickedly funny. Even though she has no children of her own, she is very clearsighted about what children need. Her observations are humorous yet insightful:
- “Any solution involving cookies will inevitably result in the demon baby.”
- “Done properly, parenting is a heroic act… done properly.”
The turning point in the movie was when Bob (the dad) talked with his friend and realized he needed some help outside himself in this parenting (and superhero) business. Of course, we, too, need some help in our own lives, and we are blessed to also have some available resources: not in superhero friends or ingenious costumes but in some even more valuable ways.
Older Parents
Older women … are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children… Titus 2:3-4
There are women (and men) around us who have already gone through the work of parenting. They have made some mistakes (we all have). They have also done some things well. We would be wise to lean upon them and learn. It’s part of God’s wonderful design.
Scripture
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness 2 Timothy 3:16
What is parenting if not teaching, reproof and training in righteousness? We often long for wisdom in the “how to” of parenting, forgetting that God has provided us with guidance and encouragement in his word.
God Himself
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
But perhaps most importantly we have God himself, helping us, seeing us, and loving us. He loves our children even more than we do. He will give us the strength and courage we need in this hard, holy, and beautiful work of motherhood.
To him be the glory.
Wattsup With Kids 