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Before I Discipline My Child...4 Levels of Love through Discipline(Blog & Podcast #83)

Updated: Dec 15, 2021



CLICK HERE to LISTEN to Episode 83: A Heartspace for Discipline, Mom Guilt for Mom Breaks, and Mom Health Tips in part 2 with Guest Becca Hammond



In this second week with Guest Becca Hammond, you'll enjoy this mother and grown daughter discussion about

🤍The complex topic of disciplining our kids - when, where, and how

🤍Mom guilt when we take mom breaks

🤍Mom health tips for pregnancy or blood sugar issues





Becca with her boys

Thanks to Becca Hammond for joining me on the podcast this week and last week! We had great fun talking about her & her two sons! I'm so thankful that God chose me to be her mama and their grandma.

Below is a my blog post that gives additional help for moms in this complex topic of discipline.

-val harrison, The Practically Speaking MOM



Blog Post:

Before I Discipline My Child... FOUR STAGES of Loving My Child Through Discipline


Discipline is a tricky subject to discuss because there are so many variables in determining appropriate discipline, when to discipline, if discipline should happen at all....

AGE (What is best for a one year old is not what’s best for a three year old, is not what’s best for a ten year old, is not what’s best for a teen)

UNIQUE DESIGN of the child

CHILDHOOD DISCIPLINE-HISTORY of the PARENT

CHARACTERISTICS of the PARENT

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

...so many other factors!


In light of all of that, I was praying about how God wanted me to tackle this issue on the podcast and in this blog post. I was praying that God would show me some universal components of discipline, regardless of the unique circumstances and variables. As I prayed about this, He pointed out to me that He had already shown me those universal components over time as He had me share different aspects in the past on the podcast, He just hadn't put all the puzzle pieces together for me prior to now! I didn't realize it before, but He had crafted four separate stages of loving discipline when he gave me some former content for former podcasts. Isn't God so cool! Back in each one of those podcasts, He was laying the groundwork for this week!


There are FOUR STAGES of LOVING DISCIPLINE. As intentional moms, we should NEVER move to the next stage of discipline, if we have not accomplished the current stage.


Stage ONE: Check Your HEART and MIND

Discipline is taking actions or words that seeks to bring GROWTH from a place of love. Discipline must come from a Heart of LOVE for the child and a Mindset of GROWTH for the child.

Not manipulation.

Not prideful power.

Not retaliation.

Not anger.


Discipline is loving my child SO MUCH that I am willing to intercede with my words or actions in order to help them overcome habits or actions or attitudes that are hindering their life or the lives of those around them. Discipline is about helping them grow. I want to IMPACT positive GROWTH in who my child is becoming at their core. Everything I do should flow from a love for them and a desire for improving their HEART, SOUL, MIND, BODY, and RELATIONSHIPS (those are the core parts of their being).


I should NOT discipline until and unless I have gotten into a heartspace of love and a headspace of growth.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥As you can imagine, many of my podcasts are about the topic of loving your child well. Here's a link to one of them. EPISODE 3 "Loving Your Child Well from Toddler to Teen"