Learning

It’s Harvest Season! What Seeds are you Sowing?
Karen Schacter, contributing editor

We’ve all heard the expression, “you reap what you sow.” What this means is if you put effort, care and love into something, you will reap positive results.

There is no place where that expression resonates more fully than in the role of parent. As parents, when it comes to helping to support our children on the road to becoming healthy, happy, thriving human beings and well-functioning members of society, we know that our efforts matter. We are our children’s first teachers, role models and influencers and what we put into them will come out; whether we like it or not.

For many parents, however, this fact alone can sometimes feel like an awful lot of pressure. In too many instances the pressure can cause unwanted anxiety, stress and feelings of being at one’s wits end.

So what’s a loving parent to DO?

Mahatma Ghandi said it first when he stated, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” He was not boisterous nor did he make a loud noise but rather he was gentle, subtle, and oh, so powerful. And through his approach he was able to show strength and an ability to convey rightness and how people should live with one another. By living and breathing what it meant to be peaceful, he was able to influence a generation of people.

Now, what if, we as parents were apply this apply this principle in raising our children. What might this look like?

Here are a three things to consider:

  1. Are your children being spoiled and are asking for and receiving too much stuff? Take a look at how you’re expressing gratitude for all of the good things you have in your life. Are you embodying that mindset of, or are you part of the excess mentality that is so prevalent in our culture?
  2. Worried about your daughter eating too many sweets? How are you taking care of your body? Whether it’s too many sweets or grabbing a diet coke or coffee while rushing out of the door without breakfast, your child knows how you feel about caring for your own body. If you really want her to eat more healthfully, then show her how it’s done.
  3. Don’t like the attitude of your son? Any chance he might be imitating you?

Bear in mind that it is not about blame, shame and guilt. Certainly, we all do the best we can. It is, however, about shifting our perspective and recognizing that it’s not just the words that count. But rather, when we model what we want to teach our children, embody the values, beliefs and behaviors that we are trying teach, then and only then, will we become the living example for them to see.

Until next time...