1. What if you saw your child as wounded instead of wrong?
2. What if you saw the mistakes your child makes today as a learning opportunity?
3. What if you saw the behavior your child is exhibiting as age appropriate?
4. What if you saw your child today as unfinished and simply on the road to becoming who he or she is going to become?
5. What if you saw your child as confused rather than wrong?
6. What if you saw your child’s behavior as a cry for help?
7. What if you saw the hurting child in the child that hurts?
8. What if you saw your child today as a child of God?
9. What if you saw your child as a teacher who is offering you a lesson?
10. What if you saw your child’s behavior as perfect for helping him learn what he needs to learn right now?
11. What if you saw your child as you have never seen her before?
12. What if you saw your child as a gift that has been given to you?
13. What if you saw your child as more than his current behavior?
14. What if you saw your child’s current misbehavior as exhibiting strengths in a different setting?
15. What if you saw your child for who she is rather than who you want her to be?
16. What if you saw your child as being in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, right now?

How you choose to see your child is up to you. Your view of your child may well tell more about you than it does about your child. Choose wisely.

Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman are the authors of The 10 Commitments: Parenting with Purpose. They are two of the world’s foremost authorities on raising responsible, caring, confident children. They publish a free Uncommon Parenting blog.  To obtain more information about how they can help you or your group meet your parenting needs, visit their website today: www.uncommon-parenting.com