Seeing Your Child Differently :: Mentor Series Wk 6 [Ep. 585]

As moms, it's so easy to compare our children to everyone else's. We wonder why one child seems to thrive in situations where another struggles. We ask ourselves if we're doing something wrong or if we'd somehow be a better parent if our child were different.

But what if God intentionally gave you the child you have?

In this episode, I'm talking about what it looks like to parent the child God created instead of the child we expected. Everyone has a unique personality, unique strengths, unique struggles, and a unique purpose. Our job isn't to force them into a mold, it’s to become students of who God made them to be.

I share an episode with Sally Clarkson and her son Nathan about how our parenting often changes when we begin looking beyond behavior and start asking what our children truly need. Sometimes what looks like defiance is anxiety. Sometimes what looks like impulsiveness may be part of how God uniquely wired them. As parents, we have the opportunity to respond with curiosity, compassion, and wisdom instead of frustration.

We'll also discuss the reality of raising children with ADHD, OCD, sensory challenges, autism, or other forms of neurodivergence. Receiving a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't define your child. It simply gives you a better map for understanding how they experience the world. God isn't surprised by your child's wiring, and He certainly isn't limited by it.

Remember, God didn't make a mistake when He gave your child to you. He chose you to be their mom for a reason, and He promises to give you the wisdom and grace you need for every step of the journey.

Connect with Sally Clarkson: 

• Website: SallyClarkson.com 
• Instagram: Sally Clarkson (@sally.clarkson)
• Facebook: Sally Clarkson

Links Mentioned: 

• Don't Mom Alone: By Heather MacFadyen
• Different: By Sally and Nathan Clarkson
• Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Related Episodes:

• Loving Your “Different” Child :: Sally and Nathan Clarkson [Ep 149]
• Mothering Autism: Navigating Grief, Marriage, and Community :: Carrie Cariello, Kate Swenson, and Adrian Wood [Ep 515]

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