My Kids Won’t Listen, What Do I Do?

YouVersion
Aug 31, 2018 · 3 min read

We’ve all said it before, and it’s the topic of most playdates, chats over coffee, and visits with the in-laws: “Our kids don’t listen!”

“He’s always ignoring me”, “It goes in one ear and out the other”, or the classic “They just don’t listen!”

Whether our children are three or twenty-three, as parents we battle with getting our message across. We just want our kids to do what we ask and, Lord willing, to make good choices when we’re not around. That’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it?

Pressure on us and our kids.

One of the most eye opening moments for me as a mom was when I heard that my attitude sets the tone for my day…and for my family’s. My best friend was sharing a story about the time when her family of five became stranded overnight in an airport. Their flight was delayed after weeks of traveling, and they were more than ready to go home. She told me that she and her husband kept the kids busy with coloring, and they all slept on their backpacks and ate squished granola bars from their carry-on bags. As a new mom with two little kids under three, I was amazed and said, “How did you manage that?”

She said the words that have haunted, I mean, guided me, ever since, “I realized that, as Mom, I was the one who set the tone. If I fell apart and got whiny and angry, they would, too. So, I put on a happy face and got through it. They saw mom staying strong and they all followed suit.”

Years later, as I was struggling with a child who wouldn’t listen — who argued frequently and had angry outbursts — I leaned into those words and sought resources to help me become a better parent. Through the YouVersion Bible App, I found a Plan called 5 Days to Freedom From Angry Parenting. Thank you, Jesus for this this Plan! I read the author’s words, immersed myself in the Scriptures they provided, and sought the Lord in prayer.

If I wanted my kids to listen, I had to set the example. The funny thing was, at first I had tried to find a plan for “Kids Who Don’t Listen.” (You’ve done it too, I know!) But after completing this Plan, and then reading the book, I found that many of my kids’ behavioral challenges were actually starting with me: my attitude, my expectations, and my anger.

Proverbs 15:1 NLT says, A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Whether our kids argue, act out, or don’t listen to instruction, God’s Word gives us directives. There are many helpful resources available, like books, parenting courses, and counseling, but first, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and His Word to see if we, as parents, can do anything differently.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

Find a Bible Plan today that can encourage and guide you as you parent your kids. Here are a few to help you get started:


Meghan is a mom of two great kids and she’s a work in progress herself. Meghan leads a life group specifically for moms to provide encouragement in parenting in the Tulsa, OK area.

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