Four Tips on Being a Great Mom

Mother's Day is a special time of year when moms are recognized for their love, sacrifices, and achievements. Whether you've been a mom for 60 years or you’re new to this venture in life, a little advice is always helpful.

CBN News spoke with Dr. Linda Mintle, a licensed family therapist, who shared four practical tips on being a great mom.

Be Positive

Mintle says that children have an uncanny ability to remember negative things that are spoken to them.

"You have the power as a parent to really shape how your child feels about him or herself and they remember those things," she says.

"If in one of your fits you tell your child they’re a loser…that really stays with a child," she adds.

Mintle explains that the Bible makes it clear that there is power in the tongue and that moms should use it to bless their children.

"Moms are in a great position to speak life into their children. They are typically with them more so than the fathers and they can constantly give that positive power of praise."

'Stand Your Ground'

Discipline is an important aspect of child-rearing and Mintle advises that moms should not waver in following through when children misbehave.

"You have to be a disciplinarian," she says. "It's easy for moms to think 'I'll be the child's friend' or 'I'll give in' or let the father deal with the hard stuff, but really the child needs to respect you."

Mintle says mothers need to be very specific when disciplining and set out the rules and consequences.

"You be tough as a mom in addition to the love you give."

Create a Safe Home

Creating a safe home is not just about plugging up the electric socket or putting a child gate in front of the basement door; rather it’s about creating a safe atmosphere at home.

Mintle explains that if you're constantly yelling and frustrated you can create an unsafe environment for your child where they are unsure of what's going on.

"If they are more worried about you than they are about being a child, then that's a problem," she says.

"I remember a moment when I got really angry with my child and I remember looking at his face and I could tell he was scared of me," Mintle says. "That was a really awful feeling for me, so I went and I told him 'Mommy needs a time out instead of yelling at you because this is not the way I want to be.’"

Mintle encourages moms to check their own emotions, since it can be difficult to not react out of frustration and anger at times.

Pray Scripture Over Children

Mintle advises that the most important thing you can do is pray and speak scripture over your children.

"There's power in those scriptures and power in the word of God," she explains.

"Pray for their character, pray for their future spouse," she says. "Great moms do that because every great person constantly tells you that they had a parent usually a mom or grandmother that was praying those scriptures on their life.”