Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
The best gift, and investment, you can give your child is your time.
When we choose to be parents, we accept another human being as part of ourselves, and a large part of our emotional selves will stay with that person as long as we live. From that time on, there will be another person on this earth whose orbit around us will affect us as surely as the moon affects the tides, and affect us in some ways more deeply than anyone else can. Our children are extensions of ourselves.
To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while. Your children need your presence more than your presents.
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.
Your kids require you most of all to love them for who they are, not to spend your whole time trying to correct them.
Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be.
If I had my child to raise all over again:
I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I’d run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging, and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.