SOME GREAT STORIES, WISDOM AND HUMOR FOR PARENTS ABOUT KIDS
Sharing our thoughts and experiences as parents can really provide some new things to learn and some great wisdom. Below you will find thoughts from parents and some interesting things that get passed through the internet on parenting. Enjoy!
"From the time a child is born until he/she graduates from high school at age 18, more than 85% of his/her waking hours are spent OUTSIDE the classroom--mainly at home. Home is truly the primary place a child learns." -- Author Unknown
"A little boy was asked how he learned how to skate. He replied, `Oh, by getting up everytime I fell down.'" -- Author Unknown
TEN RULES KIDS WON'T LEARN IN SCHOOL
1. Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teenager uses the phrase, "It's not fair" 86 times a day.
2. The real world won't care as much about your self esteem as your school does. This may come as a shock.
3. Sorry, you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a designer label.
4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.
5. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.
6. It's not your parents' fault if you mess up. You're responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life" and "You're not my boss".
7. Before you were born, your parents weren't boring. They got that way paying your bills and listening to you.
8. Life is not divided into semesters. And you don't get summers off. Not even spring break. You are expected to show up every day for eight hours, and you don't get a new life every 10 weeks.
9. Smoking does not make you look cool. Watch an 11 year old with a butt in
his mouth. That is how you look to anyone over 20.
10. Your school may be "outcome based", but life isn't. In some schools, you're given as many times as you want to get the answer right. Standards are set low enough so everyone can meet them. This, of course, bear not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life- as you will find out.
"There is a lot of wisdom in the Old Chinese proverb, "The longest journey begins with but a single step." That simple, step-by-step idea is the secret to helping your child set and reach worthwhile goals. By first choosing a realistic goal, achieving it through little easy steps, and then setting a new even higher goal, your child can achieve success in nearly anything he/she chooses to do!" -- From Quick Tip Series of the Parent Institute
REFLECTIONS OF A "PARENT" .......
*I gave you life,
~~~ but cannot live it for you.
*I can teach you things,
~~~ but I cannot make you learn.
*I can give you directions,
~~~ but I cannot be there to lead you.
*I can allow you freedom,
~~~ but I cannot account for it.
*I can share my faith with you,
~~~ but I cannot make you believe.
*I can teach you right from wrong,
~~~ but I cannot always decide for you.
*I can buy you beautiful clothes,
~~~ but I cannot make you beautiful inside.
*I can offer you advice,
~~~ but I cannot accept it for you.
*I can give you love,
~~~ but I cannot force it upon you.
*I can teach you to share,
~~~ but I cannot make you unselfish.
*I can teach you respect,
~~~ but I cannot force you to show honor.
*I can advise you about friends,
~~~ but cannot choose them for you.
*I can advise you about sex,
~~~ but I cannot keep you pure.
*I can tell you the facts of life,
~~~ but I can't build your reputation.
*I can tell you about alcohol,
~~~ but I can't say "no" for you.
*I can warn you about drugs,
~~~ but I can't prevent you from using them.
*I can tell you about lofty goals,
~~~ but I can't achieve them for you.
*I can teach you about kindness,
~~~ but I can't force you to be gracious.
*I can warn you about sins,
~~~ but I cannot make you moral.
*I can love you as a child,
~~~ but I cannot place you in God's family.
*I can pray for you,
~~~ but I cannot make you walk with God.
*I can teach you about Jesus,
~~~ but I cannot make Jesus your Lord.
*I can tell you how to live,
~~~ but I cannot give you eternal life.
--Author unknown
Love is scaring away monsters in the middle of the night, then again at 12:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m
Love is putting peanut butter on anything as long as they'll eat it!
Love is knowing how to disguise vegetables 30 different ways.
Love is reading the same bedtime story for the 999th time.
Love is a hug around the knees.
Love is watching Mr. Rogers instead of All My Children.
Love is cutting off the crusts.
Love is a refrigerator covered with creative works of art.
Love is standing in line for 2 hours for Raffi tickets.
Love is not grimacing through the dirtiest of diapers.
Love is trading in the Camero for a station wagon.
Love is the magic kiss that heals all owies.
Love is a cuddly kid in a blanket sleeper.
Love is the first kick, first smile, first laugh, first step, first anything.
Love is your child pointing to a picture of Christie Brinkley and saying "mama".
Love is your child sound asleep,any child sound asleep.
Love is a macaroni necklace.
Love is wearing the macaroni necklace to church with pride.
Love is a peanut butter kiss, a syrup kiss, a chocolate kiss, any kind of kiss.
Love is when Bert & Ernie replace Robert Redford & Tom Selleck as your most admired men.
Love is not worrying about those few extra pounds cuz they make you more cuddly.
Love is knowing how to get out amoxicillin stains.
Love is a bouquet of dandelions.
Love is the smell of a baby's neck.
Love is saying no at the right times when it's easier to say yes.
Love is saying yes at the right times when it's easier to say no.
--Author Unknown
FROM ANN LANDERS COLUMN
A is for Accountability. Hold your children accountable for their behaviour.
B is for Boundaries. Set specific limits, and make clear the repercussions if those limits are exceeded.
C is for Consistency. Hold to the same principles and practices.
D is for Discipline. Make the punishment fit the crime. Never discipline in anger.
E is for Example. Children are in greater need of models than critics. Set a good example.
F is for Forgiveness. Practice it, and teach the importance of forgiving.
G is for Giving. Teach the joy of giving, not only to family and friends, but to strangers in need.
H is for Humour. Keep your sense of humour. Promote laughter with your children.
I is for Imagination. Be creative, and play with your children. Make up stories or songs when you read and sing with them.
J is for Justice. Be fair, and insist that they be fair, also.
K is for Knowing your children's friends and their parents as well as their teachers.
L is for Listening. Listen to your children. It will teach them how to listen to others, and their thoughts will give you insights.
M is for Morals. Be sure your own standard of conduct is sound.
N is for No. Use it, and mean it.
O is for Outdoors. Provide as much outdoor activity as possible. Teach respect for nature.
P is for Pressure. Reduce the pressure on your children, but insist they maintain high standards.
Q is for Questions. Pay close attention to their questions, and give simple answers unless they demand more.
R is for Respect. Show respect, teach respect and earn respect.
S is for Source of Strength. Share your own faith or beliefs with your children. Faith can be their port in the storms of life later.
T is for Togetherness. Have special, designated times to be together as a family - but know when to let go, too.
U is for Uniqueness. Understand the uniqueness of each child, and let that child be who he or she is.
V is for Voice. Tone of voice can convey more to a child than the words spoken.
W is for Words. Keep your word. Promises broken destroy trust.
X is for eXamine. Examine constantly, and be aware.
Y is for You. Take care of yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. A happy parent helps a child be happy.
Z is for Zowie! Who would have thought they would grow up so quickly?
"Don't be afraid of hard work or of teaching your child to work. Work is dignity and caring and the foundation for a life with meaning." -- Marian Wright Edelman
"The best way for children to learn how to make responsible decisions is through practice. Parents can give children the practice in decision-making they need to succeed in school and in life. The key is letting children make choices as often as possible. . . and letting them live with the consequences of the choices they make." -- Author Unknown
