Affirmations:
I love to learn from children and youth.
Children give me a bigger perspective about what is
important.
I can more easily understand how to be helpful by
listening to kids.
Everyone needs time, attention and respect to love
themselves better.
Children Respond to Love and Respect!
This past week (Spring Break) we have had four 10 year
olds with us.
Their
relationships with one another and with us are fun, safe and easy.
No
complaining, crying, negativity and even some successful negotiation.
Everyone
had an intention of getting along, having fun and enjoying the week.
Seems so simple and yet it seems it doesn’t happen often
with many families.
What it is
that we need to change or rearrange to find family harmony and cooperation.
What can
parents do to change the culture of our children and families to make them
word?
How
can we grownups show up in a way that children can emulate and learn to
cooperate?
Begin to ask yourself, “What can I do to create a
happier, healthier family?”
How do you
model behavior that works?
Do you
listen to one another and respect what you hear?
Do you say
“yes” to requests and find a way that everyone feels valued?
Probably the biggest wish children have is for someone to
Listen and really hear what they say.
Are we
adults, parent, teachers, grandparents, etc too busy to pay attention and care?
Is our
agenda more important tan our kids, spouse, neighbor or our pets or plants or
home?
Do we
prioritize according to what matters to us, forgetting that others have their
own priorities?
What if we suddenly knew that everyone is just as
important as we are?
What if we
saw that everyone’s values have the same significance?
What if we
were helping our children, our families and our world by listening?
What if we
recognized that our respect for our kids taught them to respect us for life?
Children learn from us how life works.
They watch us
in our relationships.
They listen
to how we talk to our friends and family, on the phone and in person.
They
believe that they need to do what grownups do to be successful.
We need to listen to ourselves and our communication.
We need to
watch ourselves handle our everyday activities.
We need to
see where we put our priorities and where others fit in.
We need to
see if we actually realize what and how we are teaching our kids.
Yes, media, peers, school environments and lack of family
time all have influence.
But the
most important influence on our children is our personal relationship with each
child.
We need to
never speak ro or about our children in ways we would not like.
We need to
treat our kids as people who have thoughts and ideas, feelings and values that
are important.
Even set aside 30 minutes/ week with each person in your
family to listen and learn.
Do not use
this quality time to teach and tell, but prepare yourself to really understand
them.
When people
are from a different culture, age and experience than you, you must take the
time to listen.
We must
never think we know what it is like to be them or see and feel what they feel.
Listen and Learn!
Love, trust
and respect increase each time you take the time.
Apply the
very best behavior to those in your family and watch them blossom.
This
includes everyone---adults, children, elders and guests!
I love you
and respect you.
I trust you
love and respect me too.
I believe
this is true, deep within us all.
Betty Lue