To A Loving Parent

To A Loving Parent

When the baby cries and you are tired, know that this time will pass - and when your child leaves for kindergarten you will have forgotten the difficult times.

Find, if you can, a few minutes each day just for you. Close your eyes, 
be still, rest. You deserve it.

Try to listen. Listen to the thoughts, the dreams, the anxieties, and the 
laughter your child wants to share with you.

Praise your child. Say "Wonderful!" "Thank you" and "Please". Say "I love you" and "What a good idea".   Don't say "No" when you can say "Yes!". 
Help your child become a comfortable individual.

Don't say cruel or harmful things when you are tired or angry at something or someone else. Apologize to your child when you are wrong. 
Say "I'm sorry". It will teach them to do the same.

Each day find something loving and warm to say to your child - and to yourself. Never beat a child, it only teaches that violence is acceptable behavior. 
Count to ten instead.

Find inexpensive things to do. A walk, a bus ride. Sit together, learn things together. Laugh together. Encourage your child to question, to be curious.

Share things about yourself. Let your children know you as a person, not as a parent who never makes mistakes. Let them see that you are an individual too.

Introduce your child to books. Go to the library together. Read aloud together. 
Sing songs. Paint stones.

Try to set aside one mealtime each day when each of you - children and adults - can tell the family something that happened during their day. 
You will learn a lot from and about each other.

Let your child discover and learn independence by doing things alone; and to make mistakes. Mistakes do not mean failure. We all make mistakes; it is a necessary learning process.  Let your child help in small ways.  Bed making, dishes, setting the table, feeding pets.  Don't set your standards too high.

Remind yourself that in a few short years your little one will be grown and gone - to a life of his or her own. Treasure the time you have together.  Write down funny things your child says and does. They will provide you with precious memories.

Be open to change and accept it. Change is inevitable. 
Remember that each day is a new beginning.

As best you can, help your children to grow up as happy individuals. 
It is a priceless legacy; one that will enable them to achieve adulthood 
knowing they are worthwhile and that life is good.

(Author unknown)
Don't recall where I copied these words from....
but I clearly recall when. 
1982 - My daughter Nicole was tiny.....   6 months old or less. 

I've tried to live these words.   I'm sharing them today
for the parents of all small children... 'time will move very fast'. 

***Get yourself an index box and blank cards.....
WRITE DOWN AND DATE the funny things 
your children do or say....
You will treasure the memories in years to come*** 

A Mom's Favorite Flowers
Kevin picked these for me on May 1, 2005