"Accept the children the way we accept trees - with gratitude, because they are a blessing - but do not have expectations or desires. You don't expect trees to change, you love them as they are." -- Isabel Allende
Children Who Feel Loved Are More Loving
"How many of you think your parents loved you as a child? Now, how many of you felt loved as a child?" Author, Louise Hart, wrote that when she speaks to parent groups she asks those two questions and consistently gets the same response. When she asks the first question most of the hands in the room go up, on the second question just a sprinkling of hands remains
Knowing we are loved is not the same as feeling loved. Knowing the sun is shining by seeing it out the window is a very different experience than going outside and feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin. Children need to know they are loved and they need to feel loved by us and connected to us. Feeling loved and connected is the emotional fuel that gets them through the day.
We may ask, "With all I do for my children, how could they not feel loved?" This article from The Natural Parent explores this question further and offers insights into how to make our children feel more loved, so that they can pay it forward. [more]
Knowing we are loved is not the same as feeling loved. Knowing the sun is shining by seeing it out the window is a very different experience than going outside and feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin. Children need to know they are loved and they need to feel loved by us and connected to us. Feeling loved and connected is the emotional fuel that gets them through the day.
We may ask, "With all I do for my children, how could they not feel loved?" This article from The Natural Parent explores this question further and offers insights into how to make our children feel more loved, so that they can pay it forward. [more]
Reading Corner
Title: The I Love You Book
By: Todd Parr Stage: 2-6
"Todd Parr's books are lovely and this one in particular is a favourite of my 3-year-old daughter's! In it, he explores many of the different ways that a parent unconditionally loves their child -- when they are up and when they are down. Lovely reminder for children that parents love them in all circumstances, not only when they are being little angels :)"
By: Todd Parr Stage: 2-6
"Todd Parr's books are lovely and this one in particular is a favourite of my 3-year-old daughter's! In it, he explores many of the different ways that a parent unconditionally loves their child -- when they are up and when they are down. Lovely reminder for children that parents love them in all circumstances, not only when they are being little angels :)"
Recommended by Trishna Shah
Be the Change
Feeling love together as a family comes through feeling connected when doing something together. Discuss with your kids something they would love to do with you and... go do it! Need something to inspire you? Put on this tune called "Give Love", crank up the volume and have a high-energy dance party with your kids around the house, it's guaranteed to make everyone feel LOVED! :)
