Raising Right

Ever since I was a young girl, my parents always had the most incredible parenting ethic. I was having a conversation earlier today about why parents sometimes set ridiculous rules and diminish their child's right to free speech--it seems I know too many of them. You know how they always say you should write up a list of things your parents did with you that you want to do with your children in the future?

Well, here are a few of mine:

1). I will always let my child have their own voice, question authority, and ask why something is the way it is in order for them to learn, discover, and explore with their own freedom and right to their own beliefs.

2. I will guide my child into holding steady morals and values, but let them have their freedom to decide what is right for themselves personally, and choose all the knitty-gritty details on their own. I will allow them to disagree with me, question me on my own beliefs, and form their own code of right-and-wrong.

3. I will try my best not to raise my voice, but be firm, steady, and hold a functional, concrete form of punishment and reminder. I will set limits, boundaries, but never lay a hand on my child, nor curse them. I will set the rules clearly, so they do not get confused.

4. When my child feels ready to gain a bit of their own freedom and gain their driver's license, etc, I will never shut their ideas down immediately, but reflect upon the maturity I had at their age and consider the possibility.

5. I will vocally and actively appreciate them, their talents, and their endeavors. I will never force or persuade them to stay in a hobby they do not enjoy/that is making them miserable. I will let them choose their own paths in life and pride them for knowing where it is they would like to journey to.

To the soon-to-be parents out there, the already-parents, and children who may have children in the future: the most important thing you can do is acknowledge your child's dreams, wishes, and VOICE. Let them speak up, defend their beliefs, and question the methods of majority. Regardless if you are a parent or not, we are all each others teachers, leaders, and guides on this great big path of life. Be kind to one another, and do not hold an ageist response to every little situation to present itself in conversation.

What are your top 5 traits and qualities you would like to instill in your parenting efforts just as your parent/s did? Email me and share ideas!