by Nan Keltie

Created on: October 21, 2008   Last Updated: March 18, 2009

Like home plate on a baseball diamond, home is where our children start out in life. It's where they look for signals while rounding the bases. It's also where they need to hear "Safe!" when they return.

Home is where children are part of the team and parents are life coaches. If and when those coaches set good examples, encourage and instruct them wisely, home becomes the base that grounds children for life. So how do parents provide this type of stable home life?

According to Webster's dictionary, the word "stable" means something that is "not easily moved or thrown off balance; not likely to fall apart or give way; not likely to change." So then, a stable home life is an environment that is steadfast, not wishy-washy. It is unlikely to fall apart or be thrown off balance, meaning a child finds safety and security there. If we have this type of home base, there are certain things that will be present in our homes:

Commitment ~

In stable homes, parents are committed to one another and the home team. They'll do whatever is necessary to see that their children are protected, provided with food and clothing, and prepared for the game of life. The size and condition of the house they live in doesn't matter - it's what goes on inside the home that matters most. Parents who are committed to their children will sometimes have to make personal sacrifices. When children observe this, they learn to sacrifice for the good of others.

Companionship ~

In a stable home, team members "rub elbows" and interact with one another. Children aren't left to fend for themselves or allowed to park in front of the television all day. Wise parents know their interaction with children is important to head them in the right direction. This can be done in various ways: by reading together, playing games, sharing an ice cream cone, taking walks, tucking them into bed each night. Spending time with our children helps them learn how to interact with others, how to become socially adept and how to express their thoughts and feelings.

Consistency ~

In stable homes, instruction is followed by encouragement and the parent's own example. When children are taught to be honest, kind and hard-working and see the parents model this, it impacts them for the rest of their lives. They may stray temporarily, but the consistent example of parents is like an anchor - it keeps children from drifting too far from safe shores. If, on the other hand, they observe the parents/coaches cheating, being rude or being

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