My kids are geniuses. So are Hubs and I. I think it's time I share some of our worldly wisdom with all of you on a daily basis. They might just be quick one-line responses you can use in your everyday to combat stupidity or elicit laughter. Some of it might be great advice you'll want to adhere to. Take it or leave it, these are some of the rules our house lives by.
What We Will Not Say
I am a firm believer that some thoughts are put in our children's head simply by the suggestion that they could be true. For this reason, I explained my theory to Hubs when TO was born, and asked that he adhere to a few simple ideas before blabbering at the mouth. Here are a few things I will NOT utter to my children. I do not want the mere suggestion that it can be SO put into their impressionable young minds. Follow?
"Are you scared of the dark?"
They don't even realize that the dark CAN be scary until you utter these words. Truly, they do not. In fact, I go a step further and refuse to provide nightlights in bedrooms or hallways. The dark is nothing to be fearful of, especially in your own home. While I encourage imaginations, they don't need one that provides anxiety and fear.
"Slow down before you fall."
What??? Why even suggest that they CAN fall? As adults, we understand that it's probably likely if they're toddlers, but instead try to use words that encourage balance, agility, and proper running form. Lift your knees higher, don't scuff your shoes on the ground, or pump your arms are all perfectly acceptable alternatives.
"Did somebody hurt your feelings, sweetie?"
Sorry, not gonna say it. While adults go around getting OFFENDED at the drop of a hat, I will not allow my kids this excuse. It's a victim's mentality. If someone says something improper to one of my children, we will talk about forgiveness and how we can do one of two things, or both if the situation is right. We can simply learn how NOT to be, or we can use it to help teach our friends and acquaintances how we prefer to be treated. And if our friends don't want to comply, then we peacefully part ways. End of story. It's not going to be a burden that MY children carry around because another person doesn't give them proper respect.
7 comments:
Great points and oh so true. Don't plant the idea seed and there wont be any unwanted growth.
Ooo, this is great advice, I'll have to remember this! Happy last week of ML, hope it goes by VERY SLOWLY! ;)
How well is the great Tooje "mind shaping" experiment working out?
I think you have a great idea about watching what you say - how well do you think it "worked" with TO?
All so true! I need to remember to avoid saying those very things and get more creative!
Love it! Wish I had thought of that before when my kids were little. I hated to see them hurting as babes, so I tended to baby them too much...it's coming back to bite me in the arse now. Ugh...
Great points, Tooje. I never even thought about these things, but come to think about it, they're so true. Most times when the adult says, "Watch out you're going to fall and get hurt" what happens? The child falls and gets hurt.
The only little tidbit I have heard before is not to make a big to-do when the child falls (well unless they crack their head wide open, I guess). They probably react mostly to your cries of concern than anything.
This is SO true! I had a perfect example of the last one the other day on the parking lot with some 2-year olds.
They were climbing and jumping and stepping all over each other - and there was not one whine, cry, or complaint, just good ol'fashioned fun. And I couldn't help but enjoy it, because the same activity on the 3/4-year old playground would have been short-lived because of the amount of 'he hit me; she pushed me; he stepped on me; she took my spot's that would have been uttered. In my mind, purely because someone somewhere told these kiddos that they should never come into physical contact with another child, ever. The fun that is missed out on...
Post a Comment