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Quote of the Week
"Parenthood is a choice you make every day to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing, even when you're not sure what the right thing is... and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong." -- Donna Bell
11 Things I Wish Every Parent Knew
After spending twenty-five years practicing pediatrics centered around understanding the child as an inter-related part of family and environment, Dr. Stephen Cowan shares 11 incredibly simple, yet profound lessons from his journey as a physician about how parents can support and inspire their children to thrive, learn and grow into beautiful human beings.
"1. Growth and development are not a race." These days we're in such a rush to grow up. In our mechanized, post-industrialized world of speed and efficiency, we've forgotten that life is a process of ripening. To get good fruit, you need to nourish strong roots. Pay attention to the ground that supports your child's life: Go for a walk with your child, eat with your child, play together, tell him a story about your experience as a child. [...]
5. Pushing your buttons is a spiritual practice, and children are our spiritual teachers. You don't need an expensive spiritual retreat to become enlightened. Your little sage-teacher is right in front of you, offering you true wisdom free of charge! Children watch our every move when they're little, studying our inconsistencies as they try to figure out this crazy world. And they will call you on it. When a child pushes your buttons, remember: they are your buttons, not hers. Take the time to listen to what your child is trying to teach you. One of the secrets of parenthood is our willingness to transform ourselves out of love for our child." [read more]
Recommended by: Amit Dungarani
Reading Corner
 Title: The Forgotten Language of Children
By: Lillian Firestone
Stage: Any
"This book is absolutely unique from my perspective. It doesn't present a new theory or science about how to raise children. Rather, it presents the actual experience of a person who has spent a lifetime truly searching for ways to relate, inspire and educate children. The guiding principles are presented simply, but resonate deeply.
Themes centering on trust, courage, choice and effort are developed through the sincere questioning by the author and the others on the "Children's Team." What is most important is the type of effort which an adult can make to enter into the world of a child and help that child to become responsible through his/her own struggle and efforts. By allowing space for "solutions" to appear, the author and members of the Team create an environment of genuine empathy and understanding which helps the children to discover important principles and ideals in a way which is appropriate to their stage in life." -- Amazon Reviewer
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be The Change
As Dr. Cowan suggests in his first lesson, take some time to nourish your child's roots: go for a walk with your child, eat with your child, play together, and tell him/her a story about your experience as a child.
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