What SIze Are Your Parenting Shoes?

 I really like shoes! I enjoy looking at them in stores and finding just the right pair for an outfit! I think it is strange though that apparently, according to someone somewhere, most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other, yet I only buy one size when I buy a pair of shoes.  Reminds me of parenting.  Parents really need to wear two shoe sizes --- one adult size and one child size.

Our adult sized shoes remind us that it is our job to train up our children.  We wear these shoes when we have to give clear direction, make a tough decision, handle a crises, maintain an organized home & family, run a budget, live by example, and much more. 

It is our child sized shoes that I want to polish up right now.  As parents, we need to step into our child sized shoes and view our parenting from our children's perspective -- our childrens' needs.  What are some things our children need from us?

1.  LOVE.  Love is an action.  Yes, children need to hear that they are loved, but they also need tangible acts of love from their parents.  Meeting their physical needs, interacting with them person to person, conversing & listening, or spending time with them at something they enjoy are all tangible examples of love.
2.TRUST. Webster's states that trust is "reliance on the ability, integrity of a person; confident expectation."  Your chidlren need to know that you  are consistent in your actions and dealings with them. It is important that their feelings and thoughts can be safely & respectfully shared with you, even if it is something you may need to challenge as their parent. Being able to trust someone brings a sense of security into a life.
3. ACCEPTANCE. Children need to know that they have worth.  Tap into their skills and talents.  Tell them what they contribute to the family that is positive and unique to them.  Let them know that although an action or attitude may not be acceptable, that they are always valued by you.
4. INDEPENDENCE.  Allow your child opportunity to make decisions and to do things on their own  and for themselves as is appropriate.
5.  GUIDANCE.  Help children to learn from their mistakes. Teach them how to handle an emotion properly.  Model for them what you expect from them.

Sometimes, as much as I like shoes, I can't wait to take them off !  Parenting shoes can sometimes squeeze and our preference would be to just kick 'em off for a while -- but we can't.  As parents, we need to always  let our feet be stylin'.

Hum, I think I will go shopping!