Power Relations and Children L12

Marriage is a stepping stone to creating a family. The family is a design of our Heavenly Fathers plan for us to live and learn together. Parenting is not easy. In the talk,  Who Is the Boss? Power Relationships in Families. Richard E. Miller shares important information about the power, control, and hierarchy for a healthy family. 

Parents are the leaders in the family- Hierarchy should be clear between the parent and children. Parents should not be harsh, domineering or dictators, but should lead the family in love and righteousness with moral standards and guidelines. The best way for parents to discipline is to be united.

"Discipline is probably one of the most important elements in which a mother and father can lead and guide and direct their children…. Setting limits to what a child can do means to that child that you love him and respect him.  If you permit the child to do all the things he would like to do without any limits, that means to him that you do not care much about him." Spencer W. Kimball

The best way for parents to discipline is to be united.

Parents must be united- Parents should work together in leadership. They should support each other, work together and make decisions that consistent with each other. If Parents disagree on an issue it should be addressed without children present. Parents should love and respect each other at all times.

Marital Relationship should be a partnership- A healthy marriage is an equal partnership. “Power is predictive of problems.”

”In the marriage companionship, there is neither inferiority nor superiority. The woman does not walk ahead of the man; neither does the man walk ahead of the woman. They walk side by side as a son and daughter of God on an eternal journey.” (Gordon B. Hinckley)

Husbands and wives are equal- Husbands and wives are a companionship. Husband and wife different responsibilities but should work together as equals. Neither inferior or superior.

 “A man who holds the priesthood accepts his wife as a partner in the leadership of the home and family with full knowledge of and full participation in all decisions relating thereto… The Lord intended that the wife be a helpmeet for man (meet means equal)—that is, a companion equal and necessary in full partnership.” (Howard W. Hunter)

“Marriage, in its truest form, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other, but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting the other in whatever responsibilities and aspirations he or she might have.”  (Gordon B. Hinckley)

Avoid Power- Marriages that have unequal power creates an unbalance in marriage and the family. One form of power is when a spouse is dominant and won’t listen to the other spouse. The other is when one partner gets their way when there is a disagreement.

My husband and I were married 4 years before we had children. Having children brought so much joy to us. Children also brought adjustments. We had to learn how to agree and disagree with the decisions for our children. We are still working on it, but when we work together as a team and discuss thing together and in prayer, we see the blessings for our family.