Happy 46th Wedding Anniversary to my parents!
Parents are special people,
that guide you through the years.
They comfort you when you are sick,
when you cry they dry your tears.
They listen to all your problems,
even when they have problems of their own.
Parents are always for you,
when you're young and when you're grown.
If I had to find the perfect parents,
I wouldn't have to go very far.
Because you could not be more perfect,
than you already are.
And when it comes to love...
Yours out shines the rest.
So here's to you Mama and Papa.
You are the best.
~ by Vicki Rogers ~
Children Learn What They Live #15
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH HONESTY,
THEY LEARN TRUTHFULNESS.
Encouraging honesty in your family means demonstrating your own willingness to be accountable – to be able to say "I was wrong" and make amends.
Above all, our children need to learn to be honest with themselves. The peace of mind that comes from this knowledge is a great gift.
Teach your kids that honesty means "no addition, subtraction, or multiplication" of the story-it means just simply saying what happened.
We need to be forgiving of a small child who blurts our, "Your hair looks yucky!" She will learn the finer points of expressing her opinions in delicate situations by our example and explanations of kindness toward the feelings of others.
We need to leave room for our children to explore and express their imaginations, while teaching them to know the difference between telling stories and telling lies.
Our children need our support and encouragement to face unpleasant consequences, and to report truthfully in word and deed. Learning to see cause and effect is a lifelong experience.
Our children will be very quick to notice any discrepancies in the stories we tell them. Be careful about the example you set for them: if you don't, it will surely come back to haunt you.
Encourage your child to accurately tell you what happened on relatively small and unimportant matters. This prepares him to keep you in the loop when it comes to the bigger issues.
We need to find new ways to develop closeness with our teenagers, much different from when they were small children. Despite their growing independence, they need to know they can trust us with any of their problems or questions.
The child who deliberately withholds the truth may need help in expressing his thoughts and feelings. Give him plenty of room, and the help he needs, to say what's on his mind.
Most of us underestimate our children's ability to understand difficult issues, like sex and death. Though these matters may be challenging for us to talk about, we need to do so in ways that take into consideration the child's age and level of maturity.
Sometimes we thin we're protecting our children by shielding them from the whole truth. Usually they know when something's wrong, and they are far better off with an honest explanation.
Even as parents we know how tempting it can be to add or subtract key information from an explanation. Understand the difficulty, and give your child plenty of room to tell the truth.
When you ask your child to explain "what happened," remember that the way your child feels about what happened is also part of the story that needs to be told.
Our children need to be praised and thanked for telling the truth, especially when they have done wrong. Also, the consequences that follow should take into account the fact that they were honest with us.
There's nothing to be gained by putting your child on the witness stand and playing attorney to get at the truth. It's easier, and more effective, to just ask to heat the story of what happened.
When a child is in a difficult situation, we need him to feel free to be honest and truthful with us, so that we can help him. If he is accustomed to being treated with respect and consideration, he will be more likely to turn to us when he needs help.
Teenagers need some privacy in their lives in order to separate from their parents. Withholding certain things from us is not the same as lying. We need to learn to respect their need to become independent.
All children lie to their parents at one time or another. Find gentle but firm ways to insist on knowing the truth, so they'll know you're not the enemy.
Children Learn What They Live #14
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH SHARING,
THEY LEARN GENEROSITY.
Generosity is a spontaneous response to someone's need. It may involve sacrifice or inconvenience, but we don't set it as a loss. Surely, this describes a major aspect of what we do as parents.
True generosity implies an openhearted willingness to give freely, without thought of personal gain or reward.
As parents, we can get bogged down in day-to-day business. We need to keep a long-range perspective on how quickly our children will grow up. We want to be there for them as much as we possibly can.
Deliberately withholding time and energy from our children can create feelings of distress. We need to be there for them.
Our children need us just as much when they are teenagers as they did when they were toddlers, though in a very different ways. Sharing our time with our children means we need to be flexible and adjust our schedules as their needs change and evolve.
Very young children are not developmentally ready to share. They certainly don't want to share their favorite blankets or stuffed animals, and they shouldn't be asked to do so.
Even if it's only a bit of food or toy, when a small child spontaneously reaches out, saying "Here," she is showing true generosity.
We can share more than just material things. We can also share our patience, understanding, help, friendship, closeness, and affection with others.
The best kind of giving is giving with no strings attached. Be careful not to give your child the impression that gifts are always rewards. Help him understand that there is pleasure in the pure act of giving.
Help your child understand that giving while expecting to get something in return is not real sharing.
When a new baby arrives, the other children have to share their parents and their home with a tiny, extremely demanding stranger. It's important to give them extra attention and support at this time.
Taking turns is a form of sharing with playmates and one of the hardest lessons for preschoolers to learn. Our patient persistence in guiding them is important.
True generosity means reaching out, free of conditions and qualifications, and giving openly and freely.
When our children start appreciating and complimenting us on what we've given them, we can rest assured that they're on their way to understanding what generosity truly is.
The child who is unable to share will have fewer friends. It's in our children's best interest that we help them develop the ability to share.
We would be wise to spend generous amounts of times with our children from the very beginning. This is easier said than done, but if we wait too long we may miss our children's growing up altogether.
If it is genuine, sharing needs to come from within the child. Forced sharing is not really sharing.
Eating together family-style is a wonderful, warm experience. And cheerfully setting an extra place for an unexpected guest offers a valuable lesson in sharing.
Being generous with our children is not just about sharing things. It's about sharing our time, energy, interest, and attention – about sharing ourselves.
15 Things
15 Things You Probably Never Knew or Thought About
A Minute: They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Take the time... to live and love.
- At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
- At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
- The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
- A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
- Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
- You mean the world to someone.
- If not for you, someone may not be living.
- You are special and unique.
- Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
- When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
- When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
- When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.
- Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
- Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know.
- If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
A Minute: They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Take the time... to live and love.
The fourth finger
Why must we wear the ring on the fourth finger... Please follow the steps and you will know. First, do as the photo shown below.
Try to separate your thumbs. Thumb represent parent, they will leave you someday, hence the thumbs can be separated.
Close your thumbs and try to separate your index fingers. Index fingers represent siblings, they will leave you someday when they have their own family, hence index fingers can be separated.
Close your index fingers and try to separate your little fingers. Little fingers represent children, they will leave you someday when they have grown up, hence little fingers can be separated.
Now close your little fingers and try to separate your fourth fingers. You will realize that you cannot separate them, because they represent the marriage of husband and wife.
Try to separate your thumbs. Thumb represent parent, they will leave you someday, hence the thumbs can be separated.
Close your thumbs and try to separate your index fingers. Index fingers represent siblings, they will leave you someday when they have their own family, hence index fingers can be separated.
Close your index fingers and try to separate your little fingers. Little fingers represent children, they will leave you someday when they have grown up, hence little fingers can be separated.
Now close your little fingers and try to separate your fourth fingers. You will realize that you cannot separate them, because they represent the marriage of husband and wife.
Children Learn What They Live #13
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH RECOGNITION,
THEY LEARN IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A GOAL.
Setting goals and reaching them is good preparation for life. We can help our children set realistic goals and encourage them to keep after them until they achieve them.
Stay in touch with a slow starter. Is he afraid of failure, in need of additional support, comparing himself to others unfavorable? Or is he just a child who needs more time to enter into his experiences than others do?
The push to succeed can be just as stressful as the fear of failure. Encourage your child to put forth her very best, and yet be relaxed about the outcome.
We need to make sure our children don't get overly caught up in seeking recognition for their achievements. A sense of fulfillments in the task itself and feelings of genuine accomplishment are vital, too.
When a child is jealous or resentful of another's recognition, dismissing her feelings abruptly will not help. Take the time to talk it over with her and help her understand her inner feelings.
Our kids are continually doing new things in new ways, discovering what works best. That's what learning is all about! Leave them plenty of room to explore the world in their own way, even when it's inconvenient for you.
Sometimes our children really think they can do everything. They may need our help in sorting through their options as well as in making realistic choices.
Children need to learn that most goals in life are achieved through cooperation. Working with others, sharing recognition with others, and helping others are all important learning experiences.
Notice when your child helps out around the house, and thank him for it. No matter how small the job, this is his contribution to the family.
Learning how to manage money is an essential skill for growing up. Recognize your child for even the smallest wise decisions about handling money.
We want our children to know that the inner feeling of accomplishment is fulfilling a goal can be as satisfying as outer recognition. We can help them learn this distinction by highlighting their inner experience.
Working toward a goal provides important lesions for growing up. It teaches realistic planning, problem solving and perseverance. Be sure to give your children plenty of opportunities to work toward their goals.
The child's first attempts at goal setting begin with play. Building blocks and other creative toys are good tools for learning to set goals.
We want to remind ourselves to take the time to pause in our busy lives so we can recognize our children by seeing them anew – in the moment, just being themselves. Every single day of our lives offers opportunities to do so, if we are willing.
The best way to increase the chance of success is by setting realistic expectations. Help your child choose age-appropriate goals.
Acknowledging children for giving and doing their best regardless of the outcome contributes to the building of integrity, even in the very young.
"Watch me! Watch me!" is a frequent refrain of little children. Older children are crying out for our attention too, although in a very different ways. No matter what age our children age, they need to have their accomplishments, large and small, noticed.
Eventually, older children come to realize how much hard work goes into a project. Once they’ve made this connection, recognition and accomplishment take on a deeper meaning.
Help your child with school project, but be sure not to take over. You are important resource and guide, especially when your child is frustrated or discouraged. Your presence does make a difference.
The Scars of Life
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.
He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a u-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter! "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know how they got them. Also, it is soooo important that we are not selfish - to receive the blessings of these messages, without forwarding them to someone else.
Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them, too - enough to not let them go.
He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a u-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter! "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know how they got them. Also, it is soooo important that we are not selfish - to receive the blessings of these messages, without forwarding them to someone else.
Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them, too - enough to not let them go.
Children Learn What They Live #12
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH APPROVAL,
THEY LEARN TO LIKE THEMSELVES.
Even when we don't state our feelings explicitly, our children are experts at knowing what we approve of as well as what we don't. We might need to become more generous and less critical if we truly want them to flourish.
By the way we express our approval, we can influence what our children come to value and like about themselves. In this way, we contribute both to their developing identities and to their emerging morality.
Our approving remarks – "Go ahead," "Stay with it," "You’re doing great!" – send a reassuring message and encourage children to continue with their efforts.
We need to support our children's developing self-esteem so they can like themselves on their own terms. This will help them hold firm to what they know is right when outside pressures challenge them.
If our children grow up to be responsible human beings who make their decisions conscientiously and in good faiths, we should be pleased, regardless of whether or not we agree with every specific decision they make.
We need to be on the alert when a child seems to be constantly seeking approval. What he might really need is love and affection.
When older children ask for our approval about a choice they're making, they're letting us know they respect us and have confidence in our judgment. Don't miss this opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue.
We make it easier for our children to gain our approval when we have realistic expectations of them, when we are firm but flexible, and when we create with them a family setting in which their contributions are respected.
The child who is anxiously seeking your approval may really need more special time together – time to be closer to you.
As our children mature, they will develop their own standards and values, and they may not always be the same as ours. Part of letting them grow up is accepting that sometimes they will act independently of our approval.
Our approval encourages our children to feel good about themselves, both for what they do and for who they are.
Given a supportive and nurturing environment, our children are free to bloom into their own best selves and grow up with the knowledge that they are loved and valued for their own special qualities.
Ultimately we want our children to develop the inner strength to do what's right, independent of their friends' – and even our – approval.
Life is easier and more fun in families where approval and acceptance are the norm. We all feel better about ourselves in this kind of atmosphere.
Television and movies offer us many opportunities to let our children know what kinds of behavior we disapprove of and to open up discussions about possible alternative behaviors.
The more we include our children in negotiating family rules, the better they will accept our disapproval when they misbehave. Asking their opinion about how to enforce the rules can lead to much better cooperation.
As parents, we need to be able to give our approval freely and easily. This will provide our children with a model for their own marriages.
Our children want and need our approval – don't withhold it for fear of spoiling them. Instead, give your approval generously, even when it's for something little, like remembering to clear their place from the table or to hold the door for someone.
A positive sense of self will play an important role throughout our children's lifetime, influencing their marriages and their relationships with their children.
Children Learn What They Live #11
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH ACCEPTANCE,
THEY LEARN TO LOVE.
We want our children to strive toward goals and achievements – but not to feel they have to work for the fundamental right to be accepted and loved by us.
Accepting your child's inner being is part of loving her unconditionally. This doesn't mean we have to accept everything our children do. We can, and should, still set limits.
The way Mom and Dad treat each other and show how they care for one another can provide a powerful model of acceptance and love in family life.
Love is the soil in which our children grow, the sunlight that determines their direction, and the water that nourishes their growth.
The ability to give and to receive love is a measure of our own health and well-being – it is contagious.
Children who are surrounded with the warmth, caring, acceptance, and love they need learn how to love themselves and others.
Children learn the most basic message about love – that they are wanted and accepted – in their families.
When we respect and support one another in our marriage and in our family, treating each other with warmth and affection, we give our children a model for how to build and sustain a happy life.
We want our children to feel loved, no matter what. They need to know they don't need to do or be anything special to earn our love.
The need to be touched is perhaps one of the most fundamental, universal, and powerful needs in our lives – as important for the newborn baby as it is for his grandparents.
To be accepted by others, your child has to learn to fit in, follow the rules, and be accepting and friendly. He can learn all that in the family first, and it’s your responsibility to make sure that he does.
While children need to be told they are loved, they also need to be assured through hugs, kisses, gentle pats, and snuggling that the words we speak are real.
The example parents give their children through their everyday interactions with each other becomes a template – for better or for worse – for the relationships they will have when they marry.
It may be impossible for us to fully express all the love we feel in our hearts for our children. But do try – your children need to hear these words, over and over again.
Even when you reject his behavior, make sure you accept the child. You can make this distinction very clear to him by saying, for example, "Hitting is not okay, even when you’re very angry. Let’s find another way to solve this problem."
All kids need hugs, pats, squeezes, and kisses. For the very young, these expressions of our love make it real for them.
Your acceptance and love will give you child the certainty and confidence she needs as she enters the larger world, beyond the family.
We want to fill our children up with enough love to sustain them throughout their lives.
Children who are secure about being accepted and loved have the inner strength they need to pursue their goals and to extend themselves to others.
Children Learn What They Live #10
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH PRAISE,
THEY LEARN APPRECIATION.
If they learn to appreciate themselves even from a very young age, our children will have an internal source of emotional support and nourishment that is always available to them.
We can model behavior that strikes a balance between kindness and frankness, honesty and diplomacy, by showing our children through our own actions how to negotiate the delicate but important social interactions we encounter in our daily lives.
When we praise our children, we also provide them with a model for how to notice and express their appreciation of others, and of the world around them.
There will always be times when we will be disappointed in our children, or they will be disappointed in themselves. An extra hug can let our kids know that we are always on their side, no matter what.
We need to remember that it's not our aspirations for our children that will determine their lives, but their own goals and dreams for themselves.
Heartfelt praise is a reward in itself. To feel appreciated is to feel very special. Every child needs to feel this way.
Some children need more praise than others, and there are times when all children will need more attention and nurturing. Our physical closeness and the sharing of feelings can offer the comfort and reassurance children need to get through difficult times.
While walking around your neighborhood, help your child learn to appreciate the beauty of nature by pointing out the various colors, shapes, and smells that enrich our experience of the world.
When we appreciate and praise our children, we show them how to appreciate and celebrate the world around them.
As our children become emotionally mature, we want them to learn how to look within themselves for some of the support and encouragement they need as they grow toward independence.
Praise creates a warm glow on your child's face – and in her heart, as well.
We can feel free to give our praise generously. Praise is invaluable when it comes to bolstering a child's emerging sense of self.
If a child seems to be especially hungry for praise, she may be needing reassurance that she is loved.
In order to offer our children meaningful praise, we must first notice and be aware of when they are doing their best. We can also praise them when they choose to refrain from unacceptable behaviors, especially when we know it's hard for them to do so.
The more specific we can be in our praise, the more our children will learn what behaviors or qualities we value in them. This is more helpful than just telling them how wonderful they are.
Appreciation is the core of love. Don't underestimate its importance!
Praise is a form of celebration. Celebrate your child, your family!
Think of praise as another way of expressing your love. Make sure that the praise you offer is meaningful. "I like the colors you chose" means more than "What a beautiful picture!"
We can always find something to appreciate about our children, even at the end of a really tough day. And those are the days when doing so is most important.
Children Learn What They Live #9
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH TOLERANCE,
THEY LEARN PATIENCE.
There will always be moments when we lose our patience with our children. But we can recover, regain our composure, apologize, and forgive ourselves.
By finding-and holding on to-the serenity that we need to be patient with our children, we can create a home in which the daily struggles of life may be challenging, but are not overwhelming.
Growing up in a family that teaches tolerance for different ways of doing things and different opinions prepares children to enter a world full of new ideas with greater openness and acceptance.
A tolerant attitude is usually a more relaxed one. Children thrive when they are allowed, and even encouraged, to be patient with their own mistakes and the 'goofs' of others.
When we take the time to listen to our children, patiently and carefully, we are teaching them how to be tolerant and helping them become a more understanding person.
We may need to apologize to our children - sometimes even several times a day - for being impatient with them. Fortunately, children are forgiving, especially with parents whose hearts are in the right place, and who are trying to do their best.
Our children will learn how to be tolerant of others by living in a family where differences are accepted and respected.
The lessons in tolerance that you model to your children will reach beyond your home – into the neighborhood, throughout the community, and out into the world.
When we allow plenty of time for our children to complete a task, rather than rushing them, we are demonstrating patience.
Being tolerant with your children doesn't mean seeing how much aggravation you can take. You have a right – indeed, an obligation – to set limits.
Saying "be patient" to your child isn't quite enough. As parents, we need to show them how to do so. When they're very young, we can help by distracting or entertaining them. When they're older, we can teach them to take deep breaths to calm themselves.
Ideally, tolerance means more than just "putting up with." It means accepting others and treating them with patience and kindness. This is what our children need from us.
Vague expressions of time – "in a little while," "in a few minutes," "soon" – are difficult for a small child to understand. Try making a connection between the amount of time a child must wait and concrete events in a real world – "when Baby wakes up," "after lunch," or "when the big hand is on the 12."
Don't get impatient with yourself when you're feeling impatient. That's a double whammy! Let it go and relax. You’re doing the best you can.
Don't leave things for the last minute and get caught in a rush. A certain amount of planning ahead makes maintaining a patient attitude much easier.
Enjoying each season of the year teaches young children about the passage of time and the stages of life, and it instills the idea that change is a natural part of life.
It's up to each of us, as parents, to become aware of our own prejudices so we don't teach them to our children. If we demonstrate tolerance toward others, the generations to come will have a better chance of living together in harmony and peace.
Most of us live with far too much tension and stress in our lives. We'll do better as parents if we're more patient with ourselves.
As parents, we need to be aware of how much we are pushing ourselves. Remember, we are teaching our children how to live by our example. Try listening to your own inner voice, and if you're being too hard on yourself, lighten up.
Children Learn What They Live #8
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH ENCOURAGEMENT,
THEY LEARN CONFIDENCE.
The root meaning of the word encouragement is "to give heart." When we encourage our children, we give them courage – from our hearts to theirs.
When we see our children manifesting a quality we admire – whether it's generosity, kindness, sensitivity, determination, or some other positive trait – we ought to let them know that we notice and appreciate it.
It's important to recognize and praise our children for the small steps they take toward achieving their goals – as well as for the end results.
Help your children find ways to pursue their dreams. We want them to be able to use the power of their dreams to inspire them throughout their lives.
It's important to support our children in what they want to accomplish in their lives, respecting their autonomy and honoring their right to make their own choices. This starts at a very early age, with small things, and often requires exceptional patience and understanding.
We need to maintain our confidence in our children, especially during difficult times – and most especially when they lose confidence in themselves.
Encouragement is like a blessing. It makes kids feel good inside.
Encouragement lets your children know you are on their side. That's important!
Encouragement helps children keep going when things get tough. Every small success builds their self-confidence.
All children make mistakes. They need encouragement to find the courage to start over and give it another try. When you make a mistake, don't hesitate to say, "Whoops! I got this wrong and have to do it another way."
As long as your kids are heading in the right direction, encourage them. Ignore the little things that irritate you, and concentrate on noticing the things they are doing right.
Our encouragement is an important aspect of our child's growth and development, leading to the flowering of confidence, certainty, and the ability to try a new idea.
When we provide our children with a supportive environment, a safe and nurturing place in which to learn, we encourage them to become their best selves.
Each child is a unique spirit, with his or her own special gifts to offer. If we encourage our children to become the people they want to be, we will have the great privilege of glimpsing the world through their eyes.
Children who are confident have an inner feeling that they can tackle whatever is in front of them. They also know how to ask for help when they are having trouble.
Encouragement helps children build feelings of certainty and security that will stay with them and nourish them.
Saying "Watch out or you'll drop that!" gives voice to a negative expectation. Try saying instead, firmly but calmly, "Hold on to it carefully so it doesn't fall."
Sometimes we have to encourage our children even when we know that what they're trying to do is impossible. Protecting them from failure or disappointment is limiting. We need to have confidence that they will learn from their experiences, and to be available to offer a wider view.
It's inevitable that our kids will experience discouragement. When they do, we need to be there for them. Sharing our own childhood disappointments can be comforting for them.
The Optimist Creed
- To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind
- To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet
- To make all your friends feel that there is something in them
- To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true
- To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best
- To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
- To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future
- To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile
- To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others
- To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble
To The Love of My Life
I gave this poem to my hubby on our anniversary in 2002... I thought I'd post it here since it's our 11th year anniversary today!
I could tell you I loved you.
I could tell you you're my life.
But I won't because I don't think that would be enough.
Not only do I want to tell you how much I love you,
I want to show you.
You are the reason I live,
the reason my heart keeps beating.
Without you my life would be over.
I never knew I could love someone as much as I love and need you.
Please know I'll never be able to love anyone as much as I love you.
You're the only one for me.
And that's the way it will always be.
Without you my heart would be empty and incomplete.
Every memory I have of you I treasure.
Every thought of you is wonderful.
Thank you for the love you have given me.
Thank you for the lesson of my life I will never forget.
Thank you, love of my life.
Author: Mariana Traferro
I could tell you I loved you.
I could tell you you're my life.
But I won't because I don't think that would be enough.
Not only do I want to tell you how much I love you,
I want to show you.
You are the reason I live,
the reason my heart keeps beating.
Without you my life would be over.
I never knew I could love someone as much as I love and need you.
Please know I'll never be able to love anyone as much as I love you.
You're the only one for me.
And that's the way it will always be.
Without you my heart would be empty and incomplete.
Every memory I have of you I treasure.
Every thought of you is wonderful.
Thank you for the love you have given me.
Thank you for the lesson of my life I will never forget.
Thank you, love of my life.
Author: Mariana Traferro
IF you are 30 or older
you will think this is hilarious!!!!
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning ... Uphill BOTH ways . Yadda, yadda, yadda.
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that...
I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy!
I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't know how good you've got it!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!
There was no email! We had to actually write somebody a letter. With a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
There were no MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up!
And talk of about hardship? You couldn't just download porn! You had to steal it from your brother or bribe some homeless dude to buy you a copy of "Hustler" at the 7-11! Those were your options!
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!
And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!
We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like "Space Invaders" and "asteroids" and the graphics sucked a$$! Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen forever!
And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died!... Just like LIFE!
When you went to the movie theater there no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you were just screwed!
Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on!
You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!
And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire... Imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid JiffyPop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled.
You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in the 80s!
Regards,
The 30+ Something crowd!
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning ... Uphill BOTH ways . Yadda, yadda, yadda.
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that...
I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy!
I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't know how good you've got it!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!
There was no email! We had to actually write somebody a letter. With a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
There were no MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up!
And talk of about hardship? You couldn't just download porn! You had to steal it from your brother or bribe some homeless dude to buy you a copy of "Hustler" at the 7-11! Those were your options!
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!
And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!
We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like "Space Invaders" and "asteroids" and the graphics sucked a$$! Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen forever!
And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died!... Just like LIFE!
When you went to the movie theater there no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you were just screwed!
Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on!
You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!
And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire... Imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid JiffyPop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled.
You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in the 80s!
Regards,
The 30+ Something crowd!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)