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The 10 Greatest Gifts I Gave My Children

Parenting from the Heart

By Steven Vannoy

Tool Three: Teach

 

Wow. Does Steven Vannoy ever nail this chapter. Vannoy asks readers how many times they’ve said to their children, “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times….” or “Everything I tell you seems to go in one ear and out the other?” Sound familiar? Do you find yourself saying this to your children or thinking it? If you do, it might be just the right time to rethink some things. Instead of repeating ourselves over and over, knowing this isn’t working, can we find other ways to involve our children in what they need to be doing without “nagging”? Is it time to let go a bit and allow our children the opportunity to think for themselves and discover how to do things on their own? By allowing your child to be an independent thinker, you’re fostering better cooperation and creating learning opportunities for your child to build life skills.

 

 

Parenting from the Heart

By Steven Vannoy

Tool Two: Messages

 

Steven Vannoy writes, “There are really only two kinds of messages we can give our children—hurtful ones that belittle or diminish them or love messages that reinforce their goodness, their talents, and their possibilities. Our messages are not all verbal either. The crook of our eye-brow, a gesture of our hand, a smile, a frown---all speak volumes to our children.” 

 

Vannoy spends a great amount of time in this chapter discussing the importance of children receiving positive messaging from adults that help them become all they can be. The following story is a beautiful example of how critical the messaging we send to children impacts who they grow to become.

 

 

 

Parenting from the Heart

By Steven Vannoy

Chapter One- Forward Focus

Steven Vannoy writes in chapter one, “Sometimes I wonder about certain drivers I see hurling down the highway. While they appear to be looking ahead, they were actually driving by looking in the rearview mirror. We only have a certain amount of energy, time, and potential use of each day. Only we can choose where to focus it. And while at times it may look as if we’re moving forward, most of us are really aiming backward.” Does this strike a chord with you? Sound familiar? Do you find focusing forward leads to handling life more successfully? Your children are listening and watching you as you navigate life. What are you modeling to them?

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 At Before5, we are passionate about helping you understand how your child grows and develops – especially in the first five years, which is when the really important learning happens.

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