Inspiring Thoughts on Parenting (2)

Continuing on the theme “Children Learn What They Live” we can cite many examples of of positive role modelling with our children.

“When children live with acceptance they learn to love” is a way of showing how parental unconditional love for our child helps in the development of their self-esteem and their own loving behaviours. We accept our child for who they are and not for what they do. To realize that each child has his/her own strengths and weaknesses and we celebrate those weaknesses and strengths.

How do we celebrate weaknesses? Well in conversations over the years with Allison Rees we have talked about personality traits and how they can have either positive or negative connotations. For instance a determined person could be viewed as being stubborn. Now most of you would agree that stubborn does not easily elicit positive feelings. So celebrating a weakness is really putting a positive spin on it.

Acceptance of our children for themselves and not what we feel they should be, is yet another gift we can bestow on them. Helping them in the exploration of their strengths and weaknesses shows them our love and support and how they can best use these “gifts”.