PRAYER FOR PARENTS

"Oh God, make me a better parent. Help me to understand my children, listen to what they have to say and respond to their questions kindly.

Help me from interrupting them, talking back to them and contradicting them.

Make me as courteous to them as I would have them to me.

Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and ask them forgiveness when I know I have done them wrong.

May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children. Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or to resort to shame and ridicule as punishment.

Guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do, that honesty produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. May I cease to nag; and when I am out of sorts, help, O Lord, to hold my tongue.

Blind me to little errors of my children and help me to see the good things they do.

Give me a ready word for honest praise.

Help me to treat my children as those of their own age. Let me not expect from judgment of adults.

Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think, to choose and make their own decisions.

Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction.

May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable and have to courage always to withhold a privilege which I know will do them harm.

Make me so fair and just, so considerable and compassionate that they will have genuine esteem for me.

Let me be loved and imitated by my children.

Oh God, do give me calm and poise, and self control.