Children can grow into power and strength, yet keep their sweet nature
From birth the human soul longs for Truth. If you’re unwilling to investigate, honor, and embody the Truth, then Jade cannot help you with your parenting. To deny Truth is to sow seeds of suffering in your children.
First and foremost this means that you must be ready to be honest with yourself, about yourself. Then it extends to your child or children, your partner, and anyone else in your household. A commitment to honesty lays a foundation for a happy childhood. (N.B. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your children from things you think they’re not ready to know.)
With this established, you can work on identifying how successfully you’re meeting your child’s needs. You will identify areas where the parenting you received was inadequate, address these wounds in yourself, and examine if you’re passing them down to your children, making changes accordingly.
You will investigate your child’s environment: media, toys, friends, diet, and schedule, as well as your own attitudes and availability. You will examine your behavior towards your children’s learning, moods, emotions, and desires, and discover whether your beliefs and behavior hamper your children’s healthy psychological development
Good parenting is primarily about being present with your children, and providing structure and nurture. Wounds from our past can prevent us from doing these things, leaving our children confused and with healing work to do when they’re older.
It IS possible to raise children that are happy, healthy, and natural. But it is necessary to be informed to do so. I love this quote from Thich Nhat Hanh below...
- Thich Nhat Hanh