Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a Wildlife Centre in Central Scotland. It was near the end of the day and they were in the Gift Shop before boarding the bus for the journey home.
Poor Michael! He couldn't resist the array of lollipops and chocolate animals that beckoned to him. He chose one and was about to pay for it with his last few pennies.
His teacher, a kindly soul with not long before retirement, noticed him. "Have you bought something for your Mum yet, Michael?"
Michael lowered his head in shame! Gently, the teacher took the candy bar from him and replaced it on the shelf.
She walked to another display and selected a small figure made from cheap plastic. "Why not take this for her? You've got just enough money left."
Years have now passed.
Michael is all grown up and has left home, but the figurine still has pride of place in his mum's display cabinet.
Michael still recalls the day he learned an important lesson: "The figure was made of cheap plastic, but my Mum couldn't have treasured it more had it been made of silver, gold or even platinum."
Sometimes we as parents and adults lose our sense of perspective, don't we? What may seem trivial and unimportant to us, can mean so much to a child.
We can learn a useful parenting tip from Michael's mum. The gift had little or no monetary value, but was given - albeit with a gentle nudge from the teacher! - with generosity and a certain amount of personal sacrifice. And by displaying it for years, Michael's mum showed her appreciation of that.
This reminds me of a conference I once attended.
There was a blue rug on the floor and the participants were asked to gather round. It was an exercise in perception, we were told.
The speaker threw a small woollen ball onto the rug. It was exactly the same colour and was made from the same material - so it blended in and seemed to disappear.
'Now find it,' was the instruction. Everyone peered and peered without success, until someone - not me! - got down on his knees and looked from ground level.
Bingo! There was the profile of the ball, rising above the surface of the mat.
Call it 'thinking outside the box' or whatever - but very often problems can be solved by looking at them from another perspective or dimension.
When we learn to think like our children, when we 'get down to their level', when we master the art of getting inside their heads and seeing life from their point of view, the task of raising children becomes much easier - to say nothing of more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Happy parenting!
Why do some parents and children succeed, while others fail? Frank McGinty is an internationally published author and teacher. If you want to develop your parenting skills and encourage your kids to be all they can be, visit his web pages, http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html AND http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html
limousine airport Glendale Heights .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareQ. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More
Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you... Read More
Imagine yourself lying flat on your back, totally strapped down... Read More
Little Suzy has really been having a hard time getting... Read More
I know as a single parent or even with 2... Read More
The public school system in America has become a dismal... Read More
When you talk about multiply your child's intelligence, you can't... Read More
1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More
There are a lot of sophisticated parenting theories and techniques... Read More
To every thing there is a season, and a time... Read More
Maintaining a safe home environment for your childrenAs adults and... Read More
"I don't know and I don't care."I've heard those words... Read More
I recently heard a story that has literally changed the... Read More
The most common medications used in the treatment of Attention... Read More
There is nothing quite like hiking with small children. The... Read More
Do you have a high maintenance child?"Thank goodness my second... Read More
You have just received a call from your child's teacher... Read More
The first year of a child's life is the most... Read More
Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood.... Read More
The biggest complaint you hear from parents about their children... Read More
How can two or three children in the same family... Read More
You no longer have to use Ritalin or other stimulants... Read More
We've got spirit, yes we do! We've got spirit how... Read More
Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
Lincoln Stretch rentals Willowbrook ..Did you know that you are the most important person... Read More
Is there anything wrong with lying, cheating, stealing, shop-lifting, taking... Read More
Reading to your child at a young age is one... Read More
Handing Down Malignancy.Children may begin bright and eager to face... Read More
"There is nothing new under the sun," states Ecclesiastes 1:9.... Read More
Every year over one million parents have to talk to... Read More
One of the challenges for parents with a gifted child... Read More
The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is... Read More
Today the little red school house is not what it... Read More
Every week I write something about the stock market -... Read More
Travel is a common theme in my life -- probably... Read More
Managing money is one of the most critical skills we... Read More
As parents, we want our children and teens to grow... Read More
When choosing the perfect jogging stroller, a very important question... Read More
Many parental units are not "techies" and openly admit they... Read More
The internet is a dangerous place for your children. Don't... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
Parents are in a unique position to "monitor" their children's... Read More
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I... Read More
If I had a dollar for every time I persuaded... Read More
Do you feel like someone has abducted your sweet, innocent... Read More
Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent more than the... Read More
Home-schooling provides children with a superior education. Parents can quickly... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
1. The Law of the BeastAs parents we need to... Read More
Parenting |