Quotes About Parenting

Such a woman is called "Mother's FRIEND" always ready to give judicious Parental advice and living vicariously on the experience of others

Parents, deliberately or unaware, teach their children from birth how to behave, drink, feel and perceive. Liberation from these influences is no easy matter.

In short, 'Be careful!' too often means: 'Make a mistake so I can tell you I told you to be careful,' and that is the final display. 'Be careful, ha ha!' is even more of a provocation. As a straight Adult instruction 'Be careful!' may have some value, but Parental overconcern or a Child Ha Ha gives it a different turn.

All prospective parents should read Kahlil Gibran's excellent treatise "On Children" in his classic book, The Prophet. He says: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

Bad parent! Bad Parent! Your children will grow up to be drug addicts, derelicts, serial murderers and hedge fund managers!

Kevin Stassu, the parent of an autistic son and the Director of the First Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University, said something once that has struck with me: 'I would not change my son for the world, so I will change the world for my son.

That's what we do in regard to our sons," Leonard sighed. "We hold our breath.

I'm torn about late parenting. I believe people should spend their twenties living and having fun and not having any regrets later. I also think people in their thirties generally make better parents but so many of my friends are having trouble - myself included - as fathers get older.

Karl Bonhoeffer taught his children to speak only when they had something to say. He did not tolerate sloppiness of expression any more than he tolerated self-pity or selfishness or boastful pride. His children loved and respected him in a way that made them eager to gain his approval; he hardly had to say anything to communicate his feelings on a subject. Often a cocked eyebrow was all it took.

Years later it occurred to me that I was doing the same thing when I was helping my daughter memorize "Paul Revere's Ride." I was teaching her to love sacrifice and goodness and truth and beauty, and I was teaching her the history of America and therefore teaching her to love America

The Bonhoeffers raised their children to do the right thing, so when they behaved selflessly and bravely, it was difficult to argue.

It was standard procedure in most households and most fathers went along with it, treating these strange, surly beings as an alien life form temporarily exchanged for their precious little darlings. They knew that they had no choice but to go along with the derision and the tantrums and that, before long, if they played their part accordingly, their loving, sweet-natured daughters would be returned

Women are individuals in parenting, and why not?

In a word, the woman first exists as a mother, and the man first exists as a son.10

It's a long haul bringing up our children to be good; you have to keep doing that — bring them up — and that means bringing things up with them: Asking, telling, sounding them out, sounding off yourself — finding, through experience, your own words, your own way of putting them together. You have to learn where you stand, and make sure your kids learn [where you stand], understand why, and soon, you hope, they'll be standing there beside you, with you.

An infant of two or three months will smile at even half a painted dummy face, if that half of the face is fully represented and has at least two clearly defined points or circles for eyes; more the infant does not need, but he will not smile for less. The infant's instinctive smile seems to have exactly that purpose which is its crowning effect, namely, that the adult feels recognized, and in return expresses recognition in the form of loving and providing.

Tigerkit! Have you been eavesdropping again?" Tawnypelt glared at her dark tabby kit, but it was easy to see the fondness in her eyes.

Stop it, you two!" Spiderleg's stern mew echoed around the hollow as he separated his kits. "We were just playing," Toadkit complained. "Well, play something quieter!" Spiderleg snapped. "I don't envy you, Graystripe. Two kits are hard enough." Then he yelped in pain. "When I told you to play something else, Toadkit, I didn't mean attacking my tail!

Oh, yes?" Lizardstripe mewed. "What a miracle. If I'd known toms could have kits, I would have made Mudclaw have these brats of mine himself.

For a moment Appledusk looked as if he was going to disagree, then he nodded. "You're right. Come on, we'll take one kit each. Mapleshade, follow us.

I'm glad he's not my father, she thought.

How are your kits?" he asked. Graystripe purred proudly. "They're wonderful!" he eclared. "The she-kit is just like her mothe, every bit as beautiful and with the same temper! She gives her den mother quite a bit trouble, but every cat loves her. Especially Crookedstar. The tom is more easygoing, happy whatever he's doing." "Like his father," remarked Fireheart. "And almost as handsome," boasted Graystripe, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Maybe Breezepaw wouldn't be such an annoying furball if he had Brambleclaw for a father instead of Crowfeather.

It is curious that we talk so little about the flavour of formula, given that it is the main food many babies taste for that crucial first year.