There is nothing in this blog that will be particularly novel or genius. Families and the art of raising children have been around for a while. There are so many cliche's to illustrate the point. There is nothing new under the sun (in general) or (in particular) the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.
Parents are often on the look out for 'new' techniques, tricks or gimmicks to have more influence with their children. It's not that techniques in and of themselves are ineffective or not worth learning but what parents often fail to realize is that they are the most influential force in their child's life already....without reading one parent self help book. They are the tree, their kids are the fruit. Well, duh, right.
The implications of this obvious knowledge is both relieving (I think) and powerfully deep. How we think, how we act, how we solve problems, handle stress, communicate, cry, love, pray, hate, all of it, is what our children pick up. We as parents need to constantly examine ourselves mindfully and honestly. Are we demonstrating good frustration tolerance? If we shout and scream, or pout and stew, at all the bumps in the road how do we expect our kids to act? Are we demonstrating good character? If we trivialize dishonesty (taxes) or rule breaking (littering, traffic) how do we expect our kids to act? Are we demonstrating compassion toward others?....well, you get the point.
Raising children is not just a 24/7 job. All that you are, all that you say, think and feel and how you express all those aspects of yourself go into the cake that is your child. There are no short cuts to co-creating the person you want your child to be. Co-creat? Well, no one does nothing alone.
Parents are often on the look out for 'new' techniques, tricks or gimmicks to have more influence with their children. It's not that techniques in and of themselves are ineffective or not worth learning but what parents often fail to realize is that they are the most influential force in their child's life already....without reading one parent self help book. They are the tree, their kids are the fruit. Well, duh, right.
The implications of this obvious knowledge is both relieving (I think) and powerfully deep. How we think, how we act, how we solve problems, handle stress, communicate, cry, love, pray, hate, all of it, is what our children pick up. We as parents need to constantly examine ourselves mindfully and honestly. Are we demonstrating good frustration tolerance? If we shout and scream, or pout and stew, at all the bumps in the road how do we expect our kids to act? Are we demonstrating good character? If we trivialize dishonesty (taxes) or rule breaking (littering, traffic) how do we expect our kids to act? Are we demonstrating compassion toward others?....well, you get the point.
Raising children is not just a 24/7 job. All that you are, all that you say, think and feel and how you express all those aspects of yourself go into the cake that is your child. There are no short cuts to co-creating the person you want your child to be. Co-creat? Well, no one does nothing alone.
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