Jim Daly

Daly Focus Blog

FOTF logo
  • Home
  • Family & Home
  • Current Events
  • Focus News
  • About

A Dose of Pouty Magic

TebowJets.jpgI mentioned the other day that my colleague and Tim Tebow fanatic, Sue, was pouting over the arrival of Peyton Manning to the Denver Broncos and the subsequent trade of Tim to the New York Jets.

Thankfully, her poutiness was rare and short-lived. But I’m not so sure I can say the same thing about my son Troy who’s been known to pout to either make a point or get his way.

His brother calls it “pouty magic.”

The act doesn’t usually work, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying!

He’s a very good young man, but I decided to address it. After I called him on it the other day, Troy lamented to his brother, Trent, “Dad’s got me figured out!”

So, score one for Dad, but the game’s not over just yet – not by a long shot.

The nature of children lends itself to this type of behavior. After all, children want what they want. Selflessness must be taught. Deference and good manners aren’t instinctual. Parents need to show and lead the way, and be aware of the manipulative tactics that their kids often employ to get their way. Whether it’s through tears, an extended lower lip, folded arms or stomping their feet on the ground, children have been known to perfect the art of pouting.

Pouty1.JPG

How does your child pout? Can you identify a pattern?  If you’re a mom or dad, you need to become a student of your kids, especially since they’re always studying you – and identifying your buttons. In case you haven’t noticed, they’re usually pretty good at finding them, too.

Truth be told, there is no magic or mystery to pouting. And, obviously, pouting isn’t limited to children, either. We all know those who are prone to sulk in protest or silently resent a person or a decision. It’s ugly and manipulative behavior.

It’s also counterproductive. Like children, some adults pout to either get what they want or complain about what they didn’t receive. But to gripe and grumble will only confirm that a person is unworthy of whatever they so desperately want and claim to deserve.

At the core of poutiness is ungratefulness. We’re upset because we think we know how things are supposed to turn out. We pout because, even subconsciously, we want to sit in God’s seat.

Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul urged his fellow believers to stop their grumbling, and instead be grateful. He urged them to trust in God’s wisdom, not their own. “The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom,” he wrote, “and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Cor 1:25).

We’re all prone to engaging in a little pouty magic. If we’re doing it, we should stop. Today.

Instead, let’s count our blessings. Let’s thank God for what we do have, not what we don’t, and trust that the Father knows best.

Sign up for my weekly e-newsletter

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting, pop culture March 22, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Related Posts

  • Trusting God That Hope Is on the Way
  • Fun Ways to Instill Virtue in Your Children
  • TriumphantAccepting My True Identity in Christ

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jim-Daly President of Focus on the Family
Jim Daly
with Paul Batura

Posts by Jim

My Passion for the Harvest

Do You Believe in Miracles?

Centering Your Marriage on Christ

Topics

  • Current Events
  • Family and Home
  • Focus Events
  • Uncategorized

Daly Focus

Jim-Daly Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.

Jim Daly Blog

Home
About
Posting Guidelines
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
FAQs

Connect with Me

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS