Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15
When a child arrives to a home, be it a father mother home or a single parent home, their very presence and unending demands do tend to overwhelm the adults. Child is 100% dependent for them to live and grow. Child needs to be fed. To be changed. To be bathed. To be clothed. To be put to bed. To be turned while asleep. Then they ‘grow legs’ and parents become literal gate keepers. Putting hurdles, locks and obstacles everywhere to keep the child safe.
While all these physical nurturing is happening it is very easy to get overwhelmed and not nurture their mental, spiritual, emotional and social well being. Because if we are to be honest, taking care of the physical needs of a child is full time job. Sometimes we even hire extra hands to help us do it right. Ensure the child eats and drinks right, is changed at the right time, sleeps at the right time, is clean and safe.
Unfortunately while we as parents are swamped in ensuring the child/ren under our care grow and live, blinded mostly by the screaming physical needs, the spiritual, emotional, mental and social needs of the child/ren can and do fall through the cracks. Sadly, the consequences of this slip is not noticed until it is too late or when we are now correcting unwanted behaviours and tendencies.