What are Proverbs?

Have you ever heard someone say that Proverbs are not promises? Have you ever thought about what that means? I think about Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

I am not comfortable where my son is spiritually right now. I have much more influence on him now than I will very shortly when he gets his drivers license. Of course, it only diminishes after that. At some point, he might come around from his current stance that he knows more about life than I do. But what does Proverbs 22:6 say about my job as a parent to this point?

As a parent I know I have made many mistakes. Unfortunately, I believe I will make more. When I hear that the Proverbs are not promises, it helps me justify how I have helped to mold my son into who he is now. I realize God is not done with him. However, God gave him the "gift" of choice. It was and is my job to mold that gift so that he makes correct choices. But what if he doesn't? What if he chooses not to have a relationship with God?

2 Timothy 3:14-17 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All scripture includes Proverbs. All scripture is truth. I wonder if buying into the statement that Proverbs are not promises, it helps me feel better about the job I have or haven't done as a parent? If I am being the parent God wants me to be, would not Proverbs 22:6 be a promise?