For the Love of Me

When we become a parent we take on a responsibility like none we have ever experienced! We are presented a little life to “guide” and “nurture”. These precious little beings depend on us for everything! Being a parent is much more than feeding a child, keeping it warm and changing its diapers every few hours. The intent we put into our children in their childhood helps them to grow into loving and truthful adults! It is our duty to “guide and “direct” them, to “teach” them love. They learn love by example, by seeing and feeling the warmth of a close knit family. They learn “self esteem” by having a loving parent giving them positive feedback and praise daily! They learn to be caring by being cared for. They learn structure from living within safe boundaries that you provide; a united family working together to “provide” as well as “teach” strength and to understand failure. I once read: A child cannot be allowed to lie without consequences. If no consequences are provided, he or she shall never know “truthfulness.” I believe a child needs to feel they are in a “secure” and “safe” family environment. If one’s home is not provided with safety how does he or she know what is acceptable and unacceptable? Rules must be “taught” and “applied!” If a child is not provided with the “knowledge” of a “safe” home how does one’s child know how to feel secure in an unsafe world? How will they know to teach their offspring? As parents, our true “traits” come through our daily lives. “Honesty,” “truths” and “integrity” are things children learn from us by living these traits “daily.” Lives lived with grace and ease flow through our offspring veins if we have done our jobs correctly! We are their example, never forget that! When one takes on parenthood one takes on a huge “responsibility”! Parenthood is a huge undertaking! Parenthood is a huge sacrifice on the part of “each” parent. In our fast food lives of today we are not making memories of the “Mother” in the kitchen with the aroma of fresh baked cookies coming from the oven, the delight in a child’s eyes as they stir the dough, lick the spoon! Yes, there is a mess to clean up, but you’re making memories for them. Allow children to make presents, they don’t always have to buy things! “Time” and “effort” show love! It teaches patience. It teaches confidence. It teaches them pride in their “accomplishments”! In today’s “whirlwind” lifestyle of working parents, birthday parties, dental and doctor appointments, and after school sports, children lose their sense of wonder. We as parents need them to grow slowly not push them into growing up so fast! They just spin and twirl into another day , another week, another month, another year! Years go by and what have these little “beings”, these little “joys” learned from you? What have they taught you? Do you read to them? Do you have family meals together? Along with “grace” being said every meal, perhaps you can try going around the table and say what each adult and child is thankful for! Introduce other things into their thought process. I am thankful for my friend “Joey”. Plant the “seeds” while they are small and as young adults see all your effort spring forth! You are their lifelines to what they are going to be as they mature! You are their role model! You are their hero! You are their example!