In my opinion, these things matter...
1. Enjoying childlike delights before the child no longer delights in being one.
2. Paying attention long enough to understand -- yet caring enough to make a necessary correction once it's all understood.
3. Responding to immaturity in a mature way.
4. Being silly when I can,
5. And fun when it's not cool to be silly.
6. Making time to listen when it's their time -- not just "my time."
7. Being big enough to say "I was wrong,"
8. Sensitive enough to ask, "Will you forgive me?"
9. And courageous enough to correct my ways in the process.
10. Teaching by my actions that additional freedom is earned by being responsible and not an automatic right acquired on the date of the next birthday.
11. Sharing laughter for no other reason than laughter is being shared with me.
12. Complimenting like crazy,
13. Avoiding foolish demands like the plague,
14. And hugging whether they are huggable or not.
15. Remembering that little people are no more -- but no less than -- just that: little people.
16. Looking in the mirror and realizing "I'm one of the little people who got older."
17. Making sure that "You've done well" doesn't always carry with it "But you *should have* done better."
18. Knowing when to truthfully say "For this I am not responsible: you are." (And living with myself once I've said it.)
19. Knowing the importance of releasing without disconnecting,
20. Being a friend while being a parent,
21. Listening to learn instead of waiting to tell,
22. And giving space without giving up.
23. Knowing the immense value of being able to say in the end "I have done all I could reasonably do -- and them some."
24. Taking time to show up when I can as opposed to wishing I could when showing up is not possible (or even worse: not wanted).
25. Loving with all my heart because in the end it's worth it all.
____________________________________
? Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. The copyright and this resource box must be
included. http://abeautifulmomentintime.blogspot.com
Avoid pain/create pleasure. For A Beautiful Moment In Time
go here --> http://abeautifulmomentintime.blogspot.com
Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy.... Read More
Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die... Read More
Night Visits From Your ChildIn the middle of the night... Read More
This may come as a surprise.But despite all the advances... Read More
The public school system in America has become a dismal... Read More
Oh Please, Don't Say Maybe!!!!Are you often a participant in... Read More
As a parent is seems that the majority of your... Read More
Parents of teenagers frequently ask what can be done to... Read More
In theory, working at home is an ideal situation. But... Read More
What a dreamer I am when thinking about parenthood. Most... Read More
During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael... Read More
What is in a name?The answer is everything!Jo J. of... Read More
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More
The least flexible character in all of the stories of... Read More
Do you know what these famous people have in common?Alexander... Read More
"To educate a person in mind and not in morals... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
Impulsivity is one of the hallmarks of people with Attention... Read More
The popularity of EEG Biofeedback Training continues to grow both... Read More
The most common medications used in the treatment of Attention... Read More
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the phrase that is... Read More
I am writing this from the beautiful mountains of Western... Read More
You have a chore to do around the house, and... Read More
One of the most difficult struggles in life for a... Read More
It was blisteringly hot last Saturday. As I took that... Read More
insured cleaning company Morton Grove ..When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More
How well do you really know your child?There is so... Read More
It's been raining for a week and the kids and... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
Nanny 911 Interview with Montel WilliamsI saw an interview with... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
Corolle Paul or Emma Drink-and-Wet SET potty dollsThis is the... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of all... Read More
What is in a name?The answer is everything!Jo J. of... Read More
My husband and I have a 12-year-old daughter who wanted... Read More
The brightly colored plastic mobile dangles lazily overhead in the... Read More
For any of you Moms out there that are doing... Read More
The legend and myth of the Tooth Fairy is a... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
OK, moms and dads out there, we hear you when... Read More
Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only... Read More
Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect... Read More
The ADD child exhibits a series of behaviors that are... Read More
It's a familiar scene: Kids screaming at each other, complaining... Read More
A number of scientific studies have shown the way a... Read More
College is one of the largest expenses through the course... Read More
Many families do not want to believe their child is... Read More
When a parent is deployed with the military it can... Read More
When my son was 18 (and had finished school), he... Read More
Parenting |