from controlling others. Genny learned how to pray and ask God for
help when she was tempted to control others. She was rescued from a
life of finding comfort and meaning in controlling others.
Periodic Review
(^) My friend is a manager of a retail business. He understands that
his success is not based on what he has to sell, but the skills of his
sales people. He, therefore, makes training videos and tries to help his
employees to grow. I asked him one day how often each employee in
his organization gets a performance review. He said they are reviewed
each quarter. I asked him how often he and his wife did a review of
his children. He blushed. They never had. I believe his confession is
common.
(^) Once or twice a year, you and your spouse should sit down and
take stock of your children. Put this simple chart (Figure 9) at the
head of the page. Under each category list all your concerns. List also
the things you are pleased with. Develop some strategy for dealing
with the areas of concern. If you do this, you will prepare yourselves
with many fruitful areas to help your children.
(^) In the next chapter, we will look at specific procedures for
addressing character development during this exciting middle period
of childhood.
Application Questions for Chapter 16
(^) 1. How many questions can you generate under each of the
headings in our three-pronged diagnostic tool?
(^) 2. How often do you sit down and analyze your children in
terms of these three issues?
(^) 3. How would you articulate the difference between the goals
of stage one and the goals of stage two?
(^) 4. What are the specific character objectives that you have been
pursuing in your school-age children?