| |
| |
|
Parenting Information |
|
|
|
The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask?
The question I have for you drives right to the heart of the matter. It could alter that tired, haggard feeling you have at the end of a day or weekend. It could alter the life of your children for the better and the life of their future partner. More than that, it could even alter your community, because once I've told you the question and you've seen how powerful it is you'll want to share it with your brother, sister, neighbours and friends. Before I ask you my question I want to set the scene. You're a loving parent striving to give your children the best life you can offer. You race around the household picking up their dirty underwear from under the bed, collecting the towels from the bathroom floor and spend whatever time it takes to knock up their favourite food while one of your children spends fifty percent of their free time surfing the net and talking in chat rooms and the other catches up on thirty hours of TV a week. Meantime, you? Well, sometimes you might feel tired. Sometimes deflated. Sometimes unappreciated and perhaps just a tad grumpy! If you relate to any of what I describe then my question will change it all for you and I recommend you read on. For women, age-old family values still play a big part. Values passed on - mother-to-mother - combine with the natural instincts to love, support and nurture. And despite doing a day job you probably still arrive home and strive to take care of your family in the way your mother took care of you. But are your mother's old values working for you and, just as importantly, are they working for your children? So, here is the question? What kind of children do you want to raise? Do we want to raise well-rounded, confident, considerate children that show gratitude and appreciation for all that is given to them and just a fraction of what you do for them? Do you want strong, loving children, who understand and accept responsibility for their 'self' and the ones they love. If you do then I have a second question for you? Will the current behaviour in your household make that happen? Will chatting to strangers on the internet during a large part of her free time help your daughter become a confident, considerate woman? Will Homer Simpson help your son to respect his 'self' and the ones he loves? And will you picking up their sweaty, crumpled, underwear help them to become responsible for their own lives? I recently overheard a woman talking about her 12 year-old son. She confessed to laying out his clothes each morning, packing his school bag with books and food and then she said, "Because if I don't, he'll forget." This shocked me and here is why? My own children, since the age of five have done all the things that a lot of mother's still do. Why? Because I am their parent - their guide and leader, not their nanny - and as such I have a responsibility to first nurture, then educate, then, as soon as they are ready, hand over responsibility for their wellbeing to them. Children who take part in their own life - pick up their dirty linen, contribute to dinner and tidying their home - go on to become confident, well-rounded, respectful kids; and children who don't? well they're the ones you might moan about to your friends when you witness them disrespecting both other human beings and the environment. Begin by directing your children to take on small tasks. Ask them to put their clothes in a washing basket or hang a towel up. Ask them to bring their plates to the sink and wash them after dinner and tell them they are helping you and that you really appreciate their help. Give them a hug for their help and they might do even more! As they get better increase the tasks. Ask them to cut the grass for you, iron the clothes or cook dinner. And if you think that is too much responsibility then think about this? A Maasai tribe leader appointed a seven year-old girl as the person in charge of two-thirds of his village's wealth. The wealth was not held in money, but in three camels. The girl was responsible for ensuring that these camels stayed safe and well fed and she knew if she failed to do this properly then the villagers may end up starving. Maybe we could trust our children with a vacuum or a mop or a duster once or twice a week! Help your children to find purpose in life. Find more time for your 'self' so you can to define your own purpose more strongly. About The Author Neil Millar is the novelist behind the potent SAS adventure Black Water, personal development writer and author of Simple Steps to Greater Happiness and Be the Hero in your Own Life. Neil's words inspire people to find greater reward in their work and more fun in their personal relationships and life. Subscribe to the Ezine he writes for Unstoppable Life? FREE! Join Neil's readership at Unstoppable Life and get a FREE copy of his e-book, Steps to Greater Happiness. It's FREE. Sign up at www.UnstoppableLife.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Parenting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Stress is No Kiddy Matter Kids today no longer live the kind of privileged lives that we used to live as kids. This, I am absolutely sure of?. The Theme from MASH - Suicide is Not Painless The Theme from MASHI flipped the button on the remote control, pausing mindlessly at each channel to see the picture on the screen; I could not motivate myself to do anything else. I had worked all day and was too tired to move. Who Wants To Date Their Mother? Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on TV last year called "Who Wants To Marry Our Dad?" Well, my life is starting to sound very very similar lately. All you have to do is listen to my kids for a day, and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Children, Entitlement and God "Setting the alarm on Sunday mornings is inhuman?.. Teenagers Taking Risks It can be hard being a parent with a teen going through what I term the 'I'm Invincible' phase. This is the phase when teens start doing scary and dangerous things (according to us parents) as a way of testing out their physical limits. Starting School - What Age Should Children Begin School? "What age should my child start school?"This is a common question that concerns many parents. It is complicated if your child's birthday happens to fall near a closing date for new school enrolments. Using Diet, Counseling, and Attend to Overcome ADHD When it comes to the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or with problems of Attention, Impulse Control, Over-Activity, or Learning Problems in "the real world," there are a number of approaches to treatment that may work well. The information in this series has either been gleaned from research on Attention Deficit Disorder - which I'll refer to as ADD or ADD, or it is from my own experience in a clinical setting. Understanding A Childs Beliefs, Nuturing Young Beliefs Children are moral and make moral determinations.. Reincarnation: Sacred Children Series - 1 of 3 Many years ago, my children were raised on the various teachings and concepts of "magic" as I was studying different religions and spiritual beliefs. I had come across many metaphysical teachings woven throughout most of the different religions. 5 Simple Steps Guaranteed To Allow You To Spend More Time With Your Children This Summer Look around: Your kids are counting sleeps until the last day of school, the local outdoor swimming pool is open, and the temperature has sky-rocketed. Summer is here! Are you still stuck in your winter routine? The one filled with rushing around to after school programs, play dates and endless birthday parties. School Days - Top 10 Tips for Establishing a Good Routine Teachers know that children thrive in an environment withroutines, boundaries and rules. Unfortunately, parents oftenforget it! And yet by establishing good routines andencouraging children to help you maintain them, you have anopportunity to set a pattern and a discipline that will staywith your children for the rest of their lives. Building Teen Character: Part-Time Employment The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's life. They arenot children anymore, but they are also not adults. Guide to Choosing Plush Toys for Children Many people consider plush toys great for children. They say that plush is a soft material that children love very much and that plush toys are so adorable, that you can't resist them. Picky Eater - Fighting the Good Fight Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is notso much about food as it is about control. As children becomemore independent, conflicts can arise as they carefullyscrutinize what goes into their mouths. Achieve Success At School - Parents, Help Your Kids Easily Be Top, Honor-Roll Students! With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY soon, here are some tips to give us a "heads-up" to start the year off knowing what to do.Three tips to have your kids Achieve Success At School:1. Child ADHD - Deciding Where to Draw the Line The wonderful adaptability of children in dealing with the challenges of this ever-changing and unpredictable world is really amazing. Their growth from a state of familial security and dependence through progressive stages of self-direction and personal autonomy requires enormous and almost anti-gravitational efforts on their part. When Your Chicks Leave the Nest When my son was 18 (and had finished school), he moved into a flat with two of his mates. They were boys we'd known throughout his high school years and the flat was only ten minutes from home, but I cried for two weeks!It just seemed to me that a major part of my life was over. Anorexia Nervosa Alert - is Your Daughter Dying To Be Thin? Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that is statistically most prevalent in the adolescent teenage years of young women. It is estimated that 7% of the population suffers from eating disorders and if left untreated over 20% of them will die from it. Water Hazards For Young Children Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools, other bodies of water, and standing water around the home area. Children must be watched by an adult at all times when in or near water. You Dont Need a Supernanny to Be an Active Parent The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been joined by a similar nanny-to-the-rescue show called "Supernanny." These shows depict families in which the children are extremely out of control, rebellious, spoiled or otherwise quite a handful.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
