Practical Parenting Ideas

Is there an echo in here?

I was so shocked to hear those words come out of my mouth," said my friend Rosemary. "When I was a kid I swore I’d never tell my kids, ‘Shut up or I’ll give you something to cry about.’"

I know that feeling of shock. Where did those words come from? Phrases I’d heard as a kid from parents, teachers, coaches, and other adults can tumble across my lips unbidden. When they do, I often feel I’m in a time warp. "Eat your peas, there are kids starving in China." Or, "Don’t get too big for your britches, mister." Or, "When I was your age . . ."

This just goes to show the power of example. Our earliest and most powerful lessons go back to our own upbringing–for good or for ill. If you’re a wise parent you’ll realize this and cling steadfastly to those practices you value and take pains to change those practices that don’t fit.

Send me the parenting phrases you find yourself echoing from days gone by. I’ll share a batch of them in a future issue.

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