Each book contains a message to caregivers
I’m passionately driven to impact who our children become. People often divide over differences, discouraging their children to be around other parents, children or families that don't look or act like them. The truth is, now more than ever there is a new kind of family. A family made solely of Love. Our world is in constant motion. Rarely do children start and finish their lives in the same house, the same town or even the same country. Things change and with change often the only thing YOU can control is the Love and compassion you share with others.
Divorce happens, death happens, parents leave, children are raised by single parents, their grandparents or aunts and uncles, children are raised by someone not related to them...families change. And the way some define "family" needs to change too.
Where there is a child and a caregiver for that child there is a family! No matter skin color, faith, ethnicity, same gender, multi-lingual, handicap, illness, birthmarks, tattoos or the fact that my father has blue eyes and mine are brown. We are a Family.
No two families are exactly the same. What most caregivers have in common however; is a desire to help their child become the best version of themselves. We start by asking questions, teaching our children to be responsible and guiding them in their decision making.
Aside from one's personal faith, I suggest we start at tolerance and acceptance. Let's allow our children to be comforted by the value of their family, regardless of what that family "looks" like. Help them feel that they are part of something UNIQUE and the best type of family out there is Your Kind of Family.
Divorce happens, death happens, parents leave, children are raised by single parents, their grandparents or aunts and uncles, children are raised by someone not related to them...families change. And the way some define "family" needs to change too.
Where there is a child and a caregiver for that child there is a family! No matter skin color, faith, ethnicity, same gender, multi-lingual, handicap, illness, birthmarks, tattoos or the fact that my father has blue eyes and mine are brown. We are a Family.
No two families are exactly the same. What most caregivers have in common however; is a desire to help their child become the best version of themselves. We start by asking questions, teaching our children to be responsible and guiding them in their decision making.
Aside from one's personal faith, I suggest we start at tolerance and acceptance. Let's allow our children to be comforted by the value of their family, regardless of what that family "looks" like. Help them feel that they are part of something UNIQUE and the best type of family out there is Your Kind of Family.
As a parent I feel that the love I have for my child has never been an issue. From the moment I saw her at four hours old until today at four years old, the fact that I love her has never been a question. But how I show her that love varies, quite honestly it depends on my mood, the stressors in my life and the happenings of the day. My amount of love never changes but in my child's eyes her understanding and feeling of that love can waiver.
As I know my mother did, I feel guilty for discipling my child. It pains my heart to spank her (which is my last resort) for her to cry, or to hear her tell me I'm not a nice mommy for making her sit in time out. But as she sits in time out crying and I sit on the other side of the wall crying too, I remind myself... I am responsible for this little human being growing into a healthy teenager and adult.
What I do, molds my child's life. What I tolerate, she will tolerate, What I allow, she will do. If I don't treat my body respectfully by eating healthy and exercising, how can I expect her to have respect for her body? If I don't attend church or pray before meals, how can I expect her to explore her spiritual beliefs? If I don't show mindless and an attitude of loving one another, how can I expect her to do the same? If I don't have love for myself, how can I expect her to have love for herself?
No two families are exactly the same. What most caregivers have in common though is the desire to help their child know they are loved. Do this by starting with you. If you want a child with confidence, self-assurance and security then teach them this by having the same for yourself. Have confidence, have self-assurance and leave insecurities behind. You are shaping the little humans that will be our leaders tomorrow. Love yourself so that they will see your example and do the same. Never doubt that you too are loved.