She calls it “active responsibility” and when it’s missing it is one of the top complaints women have about men in marriage counseling. Corrin Voeller is the marriage counselor who shared about this trend on the TikTok video website. The response from viewers was a series of virtual ‘amens’ as many women strongly agreed with Voller’s observation.
Parenting can make us uncomfortable because it calls us to become something we’ve never been before. But from that place of discomfort, we experience God’s strength, guidance, and grace. As we shepherd the children within our care, we learn more and understand more about the Great Shepherd who is caring for us. I recently learned more about the work of Dr. James Marcia, a clinical psychologist who studied the identity development process. What can we learn if we look at our ‘parenting identity’ in view of Marcia’s identity development states?
Let’s start with a moment of brutal honesty. For the vast majority of humans, good parenting does not just come naturally. It’s hard work. Yet we know that it is “oh so important” because a good (loving and effective) parent gives their children a huge leg up in life. The children receive a head start toward healthy relationships, career achievements, and spiritual/ psychological understanding. So, how does a person become a good parent?
