| Parenting is the most difficult, the most | | | | them in perspective. These boring, repetitive |
| challenging, and the most important job we will | | | | tasks are one of the ways we care for our |
| ever have. So many of our children's future | | | | children and by doing them we are showing our |
| successes and problems can stem from our | | | | care. But do not neglect the emotional and |
| success as parents. Yet fortunately we do not | | | | cognitive care along with the physical care. It is |
| have to go it alone. We can learn from the | | | | easy while making sure our children are fed, |
| successful parents around us, if we are fortunate | | | | clothed, and washed to overlook the emotional |
| including our own parents, and also learn from | | | | care and cognitive care children also need. Teach |
| those less successful as well. In addition, we can | | | | your child how to handle emotions like fear and |
| learn many important lessons about parenting | | | | jealousy by talking things through and modeling |
| from our own children. If we only listen and pay | | | | good emotional behavior. Make sure your child is |
| attention they tell us so much about what they | | | | challenged intellectually through conversation, |
| want and need from us as parents. While we can | | | | games and books. |
| so often get caught up in the little details and daily | | | | Time is the most precious of all gifts and yet so |
| grind of parenting, if we keep sight of three main | | | | many parents short their children of their time. |
| goals then the rest will take care of itself. All our | | | | Time is spent at work and at various life activities |
| children really need from us are these three | | | | from home maintenance to recreation, but simply |
| all-important gifts: our love, our care, and our time. | | | | giving your child the gift of your time and |
| Love is the easiest and yet the most overlooked | | | | attention every day can reap tremendous |
| of the gifts we must give our children. We love | | | | rewards. Giving your child your time and attention |
| our children. It is such an overwhelming emotion | | | | is the surest way to demonstrate to your child |
| for us that we often forget that our children may | | | | that he or she is loved. You can multi-task while |
| not realize its depth and breadth. It is true for | | | | spending time with your child if the task is |
| many of us that we did not realize how much our | | | | something that the child can be involved in or |
| parents love us until we too became parents. | | | | adjacent to -- and the task is something mindless |
| Demonstrate through your actions and choices | | | | so you can focus on the child. For example, |
| that you love your children. Show them and tell | | | | children can help with household chores or can talk |
| them how much you care. Do this with little | | | | or read to you while you fold laundry or wash |
| gestures and big ones and do it every day. One | | | | dishes. Simply making a point of spending time |
| certainty our children should possess as they | | | | with your child every day where your primary |
| grow and develop is that they are loved as this | | | | focus is on the child can reap tremendous |
| gives them a foundation and confidence that | | | | rewards today and tomorrow. |
| nothing else can. | | | | There are no perfect parents, so striving for |
| Care is something we do all the time, so much so | | | | perfection is setting yourself up for failure. All you |
| that it is often on autopilot. Folding clothes, picking | | | | can do is try your best and give your child the |
| up toys, packing lunches, and washing dishes. One | | | | gifts of love, care, and time. If you do then you |
| of the ways to cope with these tasks is to put | | | | will be a good parent. It really is that simple. |