Family Life Association for Ministry and Education |
Print | Back  |
For Children Only: A Child’s Personal Checklist Review a self-evaluation checklist of offenses that children commit against their parents. Family Counseling Ministries -
Are you interested in a tool that would help you mend a broken relationship with your parents? In this checklist Dr. Dunlap urges children who find it hard to identify specific ways that they offend their parents to read through this list carefully and prayerfully. Listed below are some of the offenses that children typically commit against their parents. As you read through this list you may wish to check any of these offenses that apply to you. ___ 1. Saying “no” to parents ___ 2. Interrupting parent and adult conversations ___ 3. Complaining about instructions given ___ 4. Delayed obedience (i.e. waiting to obey, talking to procrastinate obedience) ___ 5. Arguing/explaining against doing something ___ 6. Complaining about food, shoes, clothes, etc. / general ungratefulness ___ 7. Comparing parents ___ 8. Talking back to parents. ___ 9. Rolling eyes at parents. ___ 10. Devaluing parents by talking about them negatively to others. ___ 11. Doing a job half-heartedly just to get through ___ 12. Manipulating to get your way ___ 13. Lying ___ 14. Half-truths/deception ___ 15. Not calling when you’re going to be late coming home ___ 16. Doing anything you know your parents disapprove of ___ 17. Stealing/non-approved borrowing ___ 18. Yelling/talking rudely to parents ___ 19. Stating “you never” or “you always” ___ 20. Misusing furniture (including slamming doors, hitting walls, throwing things, etc.) ___ 21. Pouting ___ 22. Neglecting duties ___ 23. Not showing appreciation ___ 24. Not receiving instruction/correction – being unteachable (pride) ___ 25. Getting out of bed for inappropriate reasons to delay obedience in sleeping ___ 26. Making long-distance phone calls without permission ___ 27. Doing anything illegal in the house ___ 28. Having guests/phone calls past bedtime hours ___ 29. Begging ___ 30. Not taking care of room, toys, clothes (stewardship) ___ 31. Misquoting parents to siblings ___ 32. Not serving with a good attitude ___ 33. Always having to be asked/told to do something ___ 34. Leaving areas of the house messy ___ 35. Asking the same question repeatedly after an answer has been given ___ 36. Playing tricks on your parents ___ 37. Ignoring parents ___ 38. Not giving parents your total attention when they are talking to you ___ 39. Not responding when called/ slow response ___ 40. Not taking care of elderly parents ___ 41. Playing/manipulating one parent against the other ___ 42. Trying to get out of punishment/not accepting discipline with right attitude ___ 43. Whining ___ 44. Not being understanding during physical illness ___ 45. Demanding attention/demanding anything
Now go back and write out each offense expanding specifically on each one. Then, sit down with your parents and ask them to forgive you for every offense. This is one of the most important projects to restoring and strengthening a relationship with your parents. Give it your best effort. They will be able to sense any insincerity.
As children read through these items they should keep in mind that the purpose of this list is to begin the process of repentance, reconciliation and restoration.
|
|
|
