“If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.” -Pearl S. Buck
Hals Take: Children are the future. It’s a sentiment that we’ve all heard so many times that we don’t even really hear it anymore. But take just a moment to think about it in a different way. YOUR children are the future. It’s easy to shake our heads like generations before us and lament the state of “these kids today”, but that doesn’t do anyone any good.
Rearing the nation’s children isn’t your job – well, if you are a teacher, then maybe it is – but raising your children is. Start each day thinking about what you’d like your child’s character to be like in 20 or 30 years. Then act accordingly. Do you want them to be kind? Show kindness to them and to others. Do you want them to be resourceful? Give them a chance – turn off the TV and send them outside. Do you want them to be self-reliant? Don’t rescue them in difficult circumstances that you know they can handle. This is not child’s play, folks. This is serious. What you do today with your own children WILL impact the future of this nation. Be intentional and be calm. We’ll all be better off in the long run.
-Hal Runkel, LMFT author of ScreamFree Parenting
The Confident Mom’s take: So often as parents we can forget the big picture. We get caught up in the daily tasks and distractions that can keep us from seeing what our ultimate goal is, raising ADULTS. Parents have an incredible job, and I am even more passionate about mothers (family managers) having an even more impactful role in their child’s life. We set the tone and environment in our homes and have the opportunity to help our children learn so many necessary life skills – we are invaluable! Just as Hal says, be intentional and CALM! What you do today does influence tomorrow and even future generations to come.
For more information on how you can tame your temper and create a calm home, join me for a ScreamFree Parenting Teleseminar for Busy Moms. Four weeks to better relationships, more cooperation and less nagging!
