My kids are addicted to McDonalds. I’m not sure if it’s the empty chicken nugget boxes on the floor of the car, or the smell of old French fries lodged in the back seat, but my kids ask for McDonald’s every time we get in the car. Let me give you a snapshot of what happens:

My kids politely ask for McDonald’s, and I kindly say “No.” My daughter throws her sippy cup at me, and my son incessantly kicks the back of my seat. The war is on. As I adamantly decline their requests for greasy nuggets and fries, the volume of their kicks and screams begins to exceed what I can tolerate. Have you been there?

If you’re anything like me you enjoy peace and quiet. The problem is that kicking and screaming kids are enemies of peace and quiet. I would love to tell you that I always handle the situation properly. However, if you’re like me you lean more towards buying yourself peace in order to avoid a war, which is exactly what I’ve done so many times; buy peace in the form of chicken nuggets and fries.

Whether your kids are addicted to McDonald’s, suffering from relationship issues, or struggling with their behavior in school, their problems can choke the peace right out of your job, marriage, and life as a whole. So how do we cope with the chaos? Sadly, many parents will buy things for their kids to help them cope with the chaos. This is unhealthy on so many levels, but the overwhelming issue is this: when you buy things for your kids so that you can have peace you’re communicating that “stuff” is the answer to life’s problems.

If you’re struggling with this type of unhealthy behavior I would encourage you to do two things:

1) Stop buying things for your kids when you feel sorry for them about something that went wrong in their life. If you don’t, you will teach your kids that “stuff” is the answer to life’s problems. The problem with “stuff” is that it gets old, boring, and breaks. “Stuff” doesn’t last, and it doesn’t fix the core issues. “Stuff” temporarily distracts us from the core issues, and they will resurface soon enough. Deny the urge to let “stuff” be a quick fix.

2) Try to figure out the core issue. Sit down with your child and listen to them. Instead of being quick to judge or place blame, listen with a lot of questions about their issue. Get to the root of the problem and then give them encouragement and advice on how to move forward. If you don’t have the answer, seek help from a pastor, school counselor, coach or mentor. These types of people can always help you get to the core issue and bring true peace back to the situation.

Peace is not for sale. Peace cannot be bought in stores. Peace in life is something that has to be fought for.

AUTHOR OVERVIEW

Will Price

Will is the Family Pastor at Calvary Chapel in Port Saint Lucie, FL. He is passionate about leading a movement that believes Jesus is better than anything this world has to offer. Will also has a big heart for families and strives to put families in a position to win at life. Will has a degree in Leadership and Ministry and has been involved in family ministries for 10 years. Will is a frequent speaker on life, family, and faith issues, and his approach is always from a biblical worldview. Will can be reached at wprice@calvarypsl.org

Tags: kids, Peace