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Motherhood

Four Principles To Use in Raising Children and Creating Peace in Your Family

Your presence is the most precious gift you can give to another.

Love. Patience. Presence. Respect.

Our role as Parent is constant; ever-changing and ever-growing. We each have different parenting styles and we each face challenges differently as well.

As an ‘attachment parent’, I’ve often been asked what I do differently in terms of my parenting style. I often explain that I wasn’t aware that there was actually a term for the type of parenting, which felt so natural to me, upon giving birth. I was also asked to break it down, in terms of the principles I live by. There are many, many thoughts I could share with you now about what it means to be a mother for me. For now, I will share four of the fundamental principles I stand and live by as a parent; Love, Patience, Presence and Respect. There are many others but these four will sum up an important message I’d like to share today.

When we operate from Love, our intentions are for Harmony, for Peace, for Happiness. When we Love kindly and gently, we hope that peace, joy and harmony within will naturally be results of our Love.

I have discovered that Love, combined with Patience, Presence and Respect, will not only guide me in the direction in which to handle situations, but will also carry me through the challenging times when I truly don’t have the answers.

Please imagine yourself, as a child or as an adult, experiencing frustration, sadness, anger, or any other emotion or feeling that makes you uncomfortable. When you imagine yourself feeling that discomfort, what do you believe could take that away or at least make it easier in that moment?

I ask you to imagine yourself because many times in life, it is important to put the shoes on your own feet to gain the necessary perspective in dealing with others. I find this to be true and probably most importantly, in the way we treat and listen to our children.

So often, parents decide it is their way or no way. It is this way simply because “I say so.” You are the parent, they are the children, and for many, it is thought to be the hierarchy that sets the tone for discipline and commands.

I don’t believe in those methods. I believe our children deserve to be heard. I believe they deserve respect. I believe they deserve an answer and an explanation. I believe they deserve our Love. Our Patience. Our Presence. I believe we all deserve this.

No matter what is going on, crying in the middle of the night from your newborn, a screaming tantrum from your two year old, your angry four year old making a demand out of frustration; these needs must be met with tenderness, calmness and composure of mind.

I’m not saying this is easy. I’m not saying you won’t be challenged and tested beyond belief, because you will. I’m only sharing what works for me. I’m sharing this because the alternatives are not only damaging to your children, but they are damaging to you as well.

When we don’t take the time to truly be present and listen…when we don’t dig deeper than we think is possible for patience in a trying moment; when your love turns to anger and you lash out or lose control with your children, damage will be done. I can assure you of that. The negative feelings and situations will be prolonged, everyone will feel worse than they did initially, and someone, if not everyone, will walk away feeling misunderstood, unheard and alone.

It is my goal to nurture, love, and create harmony in my household. I believe we all want the same. When that isn’t happening, we must have the awareness of these principles at our disposal so we can easily tap into and operate from them at all times.

Love.

There was an unconditional Love that was instinctually born in me that I never knew or experienced prior to giving birth. Since giving birth, this Love, is the source that guides me in everything I do.

Patience.

The source of Love will give you the Patience you need most of the time but there will be moments when you think you can’t possibly keep it together for one more second. You must remember in these moments that you are capable of endurance. You are capable of self control. You can do it. Just breathe deeply. Take a moment, close your eyes, even if only for a few seconds. Stay calm.

The short term and long term effects of losing your patience and lashing out bitterly will hurt your children and you. During conflict or stressful situations, our children simply want to be heard, understood and accepted. They are trying to communicate something. If we are able to remain calm in these moments, not only will it ease their stress sooner, but it will not let the situation turn into something worse because of the anger and negativity added on top of it. You will then be able to communicate and allow for both of you to learn from the conflict. Your patience will comfort them and your empathy will encourage them to resolve the struggles within themselves in just knowing you hear them. Please trust in this.

Presence.

Physical closeness, level headedness and a choice to be present with your children will make more of a difference than you realize. Not only in the quality time spent together, but this will also allow the lines of communication to be clear and open.

Whether it’s reading a book together on the couch, or in that moment when your child doesn’t want to leave the park, your presence is always important. They can accept when they are doing their thing and you are doing yours, most of the time. When you are with them though, choose to be with them. It’s so easy these days with our phones and technology to get distracted. We may physically be next to them but mentally, conjuring up the next facebook status update. When you are present, they feel it. They appreciate it. They cherish it. When they don’t want to leave the park, your presence in that moment will help them understand that it’s ok to leave. Talking on the phone, while yelling at them to leave because you said so, won’t have the same outcome. Please trust in this.

Respect.

We all want to be respected, valued, recognized, adored, appreciated…
Children deserve this as much as we do, as parents. When we experience this respect from others, we are empowered to be our best. We are comforted in expressing our voices. We are strengthened with Love and we are emotionally available. We discover, that in times when we don’t feel respected, the walls begin to rise and the willingness to communicate and connect shuts down. This usually then shifts the relationship to, “Because I said so” again, where the parent believes they are the only one who deserves respect and the child’s feelings are dismissed. This will only leave your child feeling unheard, misunderstood and left without an explanation.

Please respect them as human beings and with that respect, it becomes possible for you to earn theirs.

We are all doing our best and I believe these tools will help us do it better.

May we all be more aware and conscious in raising our children and connecting with one another lovingly, patiently and respectfully. May we also be more aware in our efforts to be present as often as possible.

These principles will truly make a difference in the hearts and minds of our precious children and will bring us peace in our parenting. May we feel mutual love, respect and tenderness toward one another.

Always.

♥️ Sandy