I’ve shared parenting suggestions here a few times.
Leo Babauta, who writes on his site Zen Habits, is one of my long-time, favorite, personal development writers. Last year, he posted about some of the life lessons he has taught his (now mostly adult) kids—lessons they shared back with him on his birthday. I shared Leo’s post with my nephew. He’s the dad of two girls, ages five and three. He loved it.
Many parents are dealing with new stressors around raising children during the pandemic. Whatever your situation, you will likely find some of these suggestions helpful:
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and it’s okay to fail.
- Have empathy & try to see things from others’ perspectives.
- Push out of your comfort zone.
- Don’t spend more than you have. Live within your means, save as much as you can.
- Appreciate what you have & enjoy where you are right now. Each time we’re stuck in complaint, it’s an opportunity to wake up to the beauty that’s in front of us.
- Sadness is a part of life, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling it. It’s OK to feel sadness, pain, grief, frustration, anxiety, anger.
- Don’t give up just because something gets hard. Keep going, and use the struggle to grow.
- But don’t overwork yourself. (This is about taking breaks, resting, going outside and moving.)
- It’s okay to be weird in public. Have fun.
- Make people laugh. It makes their day brighter.
What are the most important things you have taught your children?
Best regards,
David