WHO'S PARENTING THE PARENTS?: Reclaiming the Seed in the 21th century through Authentic Parenting

By Sandra Walton

Who's Parenting the Parent: Reclaiming the Seed is for all of the 21st Century parents who are overwhelmed by the fast paced world of social media, and misinformation their children are consuming daily. It suggests that we that we should change from a voice of an authoritarian to that of an influencer. This book doesn't focus on the child as much as it focuses on how authentic parenting can fine tune our voice in our children's lives through our beliefs, gratitude, and time. It is both spiritual and pragmatic as it reflects the experience of a mom, grandma, and public school teacher. I hope that Who's Parenting the Parent: Reclaiming the Seed not only informs but transforms our attitude about authentic parenting while inspiring as well as engaging your heart and mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781300649328

Book preview

WHO’S PARENTING THE PARENTS?

Reclaiming the Seed: a guide to parenting in the 21st century

Sandra Alberta Walton

TABLE OF CONTENT

PREFACE                                                                  3

CHAPTER ONE                                    PLAYING TO WIN                  5

CHAPTER TWO                              P R A Y E R                        18

CHAPTER THREE                              THE LESSON OF T I M E            25

CHAPTER FOUR                              THE WORD                        35

CHAPTER FIVE                                    C RULES                        37

CHAPTER SIX                                    BELIEFS                        46

CHAPTER SEVEN                              GRATITUDE                        49

Preface

But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to our children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them.  Psalm 103:17, 18

Who’s Parenting the Parent: Reclaiming the Seed is a call to rethink parenting in the twenty-first century.  The old paradigm of sparing the rod and spoiling the child or having the children obey because we say so is just that, an old paradigm for parenting in the 21st century.

It is my assertion that there needs to be a new approach to parenting in the 21st century.  This paradigm shift requires that the parents’ conduct reflect a person more fully aware of how to execute this most important of Divine Purpose. This new approach to parenting is about parenting the parents and not the children. Thus, I am writing this book called Who’s Parenting the Parent: Reclaiming the Seed.

As our children become increasingly vulnerable to the entanglements of the environment through their connectivity to the World Wide Web and social media; it’s imperative that what they witness from us is true and authentic parenting. By authentic parenting, I mean parenting that emanates from the nature of God. In the 21st century parenting must flow from the parents’ heart which are real, unchanging, mentally and spiritually stalwart to the success of their children. 

If we live in this manner, a manner of authenticity, our children will grow to live this scripture and pass it to their children . . .

For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments…  Psalm 78: 5-7

In my book, Who’s Parenting the Parent, Reclaiming the Seed; I have detailed seven steps to becoming an authentic parent. These are the steps to becoming an authentic parent: Playing to Win, Prayer, The Word, Time, C-Rules, Beliefs, and Gratitude. Beyond the first step the order does not matter.  What I am saying is beginning the parenting journey means we start with Sanctification. The remaining steps become amalgamated into the unconscious routine of authentic parenting.

Parenting is much like feeling your way through the darkness with blinders on and noise amplifying earphones covering your ears. It's an occupation of the heart and not of the senses.  As parents if we knew ahead of time everything that we were supposed to do, it would still take hearts of wisdom to judge what is right and just when it comes to our children.   

I pray that as you read Who’s Parenting the Parents: Reclaiming the Seed; you will learn some very important steps towards becoming a more authentic parent as well as become parents whose children will rise and call you blessed because of it.

In conclusion, I thank God for His goodness, mercy, faithfulness and the blessing of all the children He has allowed me to nurture, especially my own, Frank Collins III, Nathaniel Edward, Frances Elizabeth Christen Walton. I also thank God for Garrett Sanders, who is more than a nephew and my son Nathaniel’s wife, my friend and daughter-in-law Marisol as well as the newest addition to our tribe, Ayanna Victoria Walton, my granddaughter.  To each of you, I am truly blessed because of your presence in my life. 

Chapter One

Playing to Win

For me the journey to becoming a more authentic parent began inextricably with a word some would call religious and incongruous with parenting.  A word that for all parents:  whether agender, coupled, single, straight, or gay requires a level of commitment that we wouldn’t think necessary to be a mom or a dad.  Yet, it is.  This word sets a gauntlet in our families that implies that we are willing to live without limits or even fight to the death spiritually for our children’s success.  This word that requires great mental fortitude has consequences that will result in deep and abiding spiritual implications.  So, what is the word? 

This word is simply, sanctification. 

Yes, sanctification being the first step towards authentic parenting throws down a spiritual gauntlet.  A challenge to whomever or whatever would dare to interfere with our becoming authentic, unchanging, dependable parents to our children. 

Walking along this path towards becoming an authentic parent (my children now being adults who know and love God and are known and loved by God) has taught me that authentic parenting requires very small portions of me: my thinking and my words and great big chunks of God’s thinking and His Word.  Authentic parenting requires more of God because to fully parent our children’s strengths and weaknesses we must first know and accept our own truth.  What are our personal strengths and weaknesses?  This realization has occurred as I have walked this sanctified life.  Sanctification has created a space in which my living and breathing is beckoning towards more acceptance