Live a little!

Well a new year and new decade are here and we're well past the time of making and perhaps keeping resolutions.

As I was going through my emails, I came across one promoting a book called educator "The Biggest Job We'll Ever Have" by parent educator Laura Bauld.

Gauld’s advice to parents: Live a little.

How?

With each point Bauld makes, I'll share my thoughts as I do feel these points are important for people in general and parents in particular.

• Lead by example.
I like this because it is about being role models and mentors. Children really look up to their parents and it is not what parents say but what they do and how they do it, that is so important.

• Take risks in front of your child.
Taking risks also is about being open to making mistakes. We learn form our mistakes but too often we do not let our children see that as an important part of life.

• Do something each day for pure joy.
This is almost like "take time to smell the roses". Too often in our busy-ness we forget to enjoy life and appreciate what it has to offer. Pure joy can mean simple pleasures like taking a walk with a friend, laughing or reading something for pleasure.

• Tackle the deep attitudes that hold you back.
That inner voice often reinforces our reluctance to move forward on a project or pursue an activity. Reflecting on what it is that is holding you back often allows you to overcome the obstacles.

• Accept what your own parents gave you, what they tried to give you, and what they were unable to give you.
Three very wise thoughts here. The precious gifts that parents can leave their children are legacies. Too often we confuse material wealth as the legacy but really it is the core values. On the third point, what they were unable to give us perhaps has more to do with their inability to really know, understand or comprehend the importance of passing along values.

• Understand your job as a parent.
This is really a role or a job that is not really taught to us. Some come to it naturally but I suspect that is because of the role-modeling they saw as children.

“This is the foundation of parenting,” Gauld says. “Like any job, one must understand the duties and responsibilities that go along with it. Most of the unproductive issues we get into as parents stem from the conflict between the role we want to play in our child's life, rather than accepting the role we need to play.”

The new year and new decade brings us a time to reflect on what we've done and what we can do. Live a little and enjoy your role as a parent.