Christine, “Teach – Use every moment to teach.” Tip 6
Christine’s top teachables are: gratitude, empathy, kindness, empowerment, responsibility, and integrity. I 100% agree with her teaching priorities, and in recommending Moms teach “every moment.” We may not always mean to be teaching, but we always are teaching.
Christine once believed being a Mom was completely joy-filled, and somewhat easy. She soon realized parenting involved much more than she originally thought. Today, she described the role as “a lifelong and life-changing challenge.”
She and I share many parenting beliefs, one of which is – if you strive to reach your personal best, your children will reflect the same. Christine states “They are your little mirrors – they reflect back to you all your amazing qualities and all your flaws. So, remember to love yourself first.”
We have much in common in our parenting styles, beliefs, and in practice. We share the fortunate, and unfortunate, awareness of the depth of our responsibility. It’s fortunate we are hyper-focused on obligations, and diligent in our behavior and role modelling; unfortunate in that we are hyper-focused, and diligent in our behavior and role model.
I too enforced the above mentioned teaching points. I couldn’t agree more with the importance of these values, and the fact my role is ensuring the learning takes place. The teaching is layered, and should increase in intensity, and in depth, as the years go forward.
Reading between the lines, Christine’s vigilance resonated with me. I could see her laser focus on what she values most (gratitude, empathy, kindness, empowerment, responsibility, and integrity). In my mind’s eye, I recall the work in developing these concepts. Identifying many teachable moments, implementing practice sessions, and role plays all an effort to instill these same qualities.
At times, it was exhausting. A high level of engagement was required. As Christine said, “every moment.” This work will create children, teens, and young adults that question, confront, and challenge more than most. It is draining, draining and worth every grueling minute!
I now have the luxury of witnessing how this parenting style can influence a child, and develop an adult. I look forward to seeing Christine’s trio blossom in much of the same way.
In revisiting these values, I’ve been reminded of many wonderful memories, in a once so demanding time. Developing these six teachables, it’s kind of like, what they’d call in poker, “the long-game.” It’s unlike lessons in shoe-tying, or even bike riding. The rewards may not always be clear immediately, but the view will be spectacular!