Quotes About Parenting

Every time a parent says to himself, "I wish I hadn't said that. Why didn't I think to say . . . ," he automatically gets another chance. Life with children is open-ended.

this approach was permissive only in the sense that all feelings were permitted. For example, "I can see that you're having fun making designs in the butter with your fork." But that doesn't mean that you have to permit a child to behave in a way that's unacceptable to you. As you remove the butter, you can also let the young "artist" know that "Butter is not for playing with. If you want to make designs, you can use your clay.

There are youngsters who prefer no talk at all when they're upset. For them, Mom or Dad's presence is comfort enough.

We give our love, our labor, our knowledge, and our experience—so that one day he or she will have the inner strength and confidence to leave us.

Punishment is a very ineffective method of discipline . . . for punishment, strangely enough, often has the effect of teaching the child to behave in exactly the opposite way from the way we want him to behave! Many parents use punishment simply because no one has ever taught them better ways of disciplining their children.

One of the built-in frustrations of parenthood is the daily struggle to get our children to behave in ways that are acceptable to us and to society. This can be maddening, uphill work. Part of the problem lies in the conflict of needs.

A Quick Reminder . . . To Engage a Child's Cooperation 1. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE, OR DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM. "There's a wet towel on the bed." 2. GIVE INFORMATION. "The towel is getting my blanket wet." 3. SAY IT WITH A WORD. "The towel!" 4. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU FEEL. "I don't like sleeping in a wet bed!" 5. WRITE A NOTE. (above towel rack) Please put me back so I can dry. Thanks! Your Towel

It's much easier to tell your troubles to a parent who is really listening. Sometimes a sympathetic silence is all a child needs.

became aware of how far gone I was when I found myself trying to Scotch-tape a broken pretzel together to stop my four-year-old from crying.

2. If attitude is so important, why bother about words? A parent's look of disgust or tone of contempt can hurt deeply. But if, in addition, a child is subjected to words like "stupid" . . . "careless" . . . "irresponsible" . . . "you'll never learn," he's doubly wounded. Somehow words have a way of lingering long and poisonously. The worst part is that children sometimes pull out

I want my kids to know that they're entitled to be miserable without their mother falling apart.

The more you try to push a child's unhappy feelings away, the more he becomes stuck in them.

It's hard for a child to think clearly or constructively when someone is questioning, blaming, or advising her.

4. YOU CAN GIVE THE CHILD HIS WISHES IN FANTASY. "I wish I could make the banana ripe for you right now!

When we urge a child to push a bad feeling away— however kindly—the child seems to get only more upset.

Living with real children can be humbling.

Steady denial of feelings can confuse and enrage kis. Also teaches them not to know what their feelings are--not to trust them.

You have to prioritize what you stress about when you have a child.

I think that's the hardest lesson I have had to learn as a parent; no matter how much I try, I am not able to guarantee my sons' happiness and success.

the importance of keeping your child close;

Ero uno che a scuola imparava presto e bene ma che per il resto era assai riottoso... il genitore non sapeva apprezzare il talento oratorio del suo litigioso rampollo, e men che meno ne traeva conclusioni favorevoli circa il suo avvenire, neppure riusciva a comprendere quest'alto suo ideale giovanile. Molto preoccupato, egli osservava tale contrasto della natura del figliolo

in a curious and unanticipated way, we really do welcome the birth of our child. There

I would feel [my son's] wants at such a moment fraudulent, as an attempt moreover to defraud me of living even for fifteen minutes as myself. My anger would rise

Having children is one of the most passionate and involving bits of business in human life.