Every now and then, we parents need a poem, a quote or a line to remind us of the effects that our parenting methods have on our children.
They say that children are great copycats. They imitate our every behaviour and nuances, consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for us to be aware of the impact we have on them.
Here’s a great parenting poem by Dorothy Law Nolte (1924 – 2005) that emphasize the magnitude of influence our behaviour have in the presence of our children.
A family counsellor and writer, Nolte first wrote this poem on raising a family for her column in the now-defunct Torrance Herald, a southern California newspaper in 1954.
Besides writing, the mother of four children was also a parent-educator, a child-birth instructor, a promoter of a stress-reduction technique known as Rolfing and a founder of a kindergarten.
Children Learn What They Live
If children live with criticism,
They learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility,
They learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule,
They learn to be shy.
If children live with shame,
They learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement,
They learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance,
They learn to be patient.
If children live with praise,
They learn to appreciate.
If children live with acceptance,
They learn to love.
If children live with approval,
They learn to like themselves.
If children live with honesty,
They learn truthfulness.
Sources: The San Francisco Chronicle and The Guardian
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