As a parent our job is to teach our children everything they need to know so that they grow up to be happy, healthy and successful members of society. Sometimes these “life lessons” are NOT what your child wants to hear about or deal with, especially when dealing with teenagers. Our teen daughter rolls her eyes at us when why try and teach her something important about life, or she’ll fight us “tooth and nail” on important issues.
We always tell our kids that its our “job” to be a parent and to teach them important life skills. We are not here to be their “friend”. We can be their friend later on in life when they are grown up and on their own.
What life lessons to you feel are important to pass on to your children? I would very much love to hear from my readers in regards to this.
Here are a few life lessons that we try to pass on to our children.
Do your best.
I have two children. Our daughter is an honor roll student. She’s very “book smart” and things just come easily to her (thankfully). Getting 100’s and 90’s on tests and projects are not uncommon for HER, but for our son, its a struggle. He feels like he’ll never be as good as she is at school. His grades range in the upper 60’s to mid-70’s. We tell our son all the time as long as we know that he’s doing the best that HE can do, then whatever grade he gets is fine with us. He doesn’t have to get perfect grades all the time. If he only gets in the mid-70’s for his entire school life then we are OK with that. As long as we know that he’s tried his best then we are accepting of that. He does NOT have to get great grades like our daughter. It would be ideal but grades are not the “end all” either.
Do on to others as you would like others to do on to you.
I know this rule is rather cliche but it’s 100% true. We have always taught our kids to have respect for other people and to treat them the same way they would like to be treated. For example, there is a little girl who is in the same grade as our daughter. Her mother is VERY sick and her father has to work double shifts to make ends meet. The little girl does not have much, nor does she have many friends because most kids don’t want to be friends with her because she’s “poor” and a bit “nerdy”. I have always told my daughter to be nice to her. Invite her to sit with her and her friends for lunch. Sit with her on the bus. Talk with her. If she sees someone picking on her to stand up for her. I always remind my daughter that if she was in the other girl’s place she would want someone to be kind to her too.
Always tell people that you love them.
Life can change in a split second. You never know when something tragic might happen and someone who you love and care about it suddenly gone forever. Its important to tell the people you love and care about that you love them as often as you can. It doesn’t even need to be the actual words. A simple hug or kiss means the same thing. As much as our kids fight like cats and dogs we always tell them that at the end of the day to make sure you let each other know that whatever fights they had earlier are no longer important. What matters is that they love each other.
I have known too many people who passed on without warning and so many loved ones wishing that they told them that they loved them before were gone. When someone dies there is no more “should have, could have, would have”.
Enjoy the simple things in life.
In this day and age where children are caught up in iPhones, iPads, computers, HDTV, designer labels and all the material “must haves” its important for children to take time to enjoy and appreciate the simple things in life.
This past weekend we went to the state park. I came across some milk weed. I broke off a piece and showed my kids how the plant “bleeds” a milky substance. They thought that was the coolest thing.
As we sat on the rocks a grasshopper hopped near us. We all sat there in awe of this little creature, trying to figure out where he was coming from and where he was going to.
We try and encourage our children to notice and appreciate things like the feel of the wind on their face, the fluffy clouds in the sky, the bright flowers growing in a neighbors garden. Another words the things in life that no amount of money can buy.
Be yourself and don’t feel you have to mold yourself after others.
My son is a good example of someone who marches to the beat of his own drums. He’s not into fashion or the latest “must have” video games. He couldn’t care less. My son enjoys dressing in clothes that he finds comfortable even if they don’t match. He LOVES to wear Fedora hats. He has several in different colors and patterns. When he first started to wear them our daughter told him that kids were going to make fun of him if he wore them to school. Our son didn’t care. He wore them anyway. A few kids did make fun of him but in due time the kids started to think it was pretty cool. Other kids started to wear them to school tool.
Our son is not yet 11 and he rather listen to music like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Journey. He couldn’t care less abotu Eminem, Rhianna or Ke$ha.
Our son is content and happy with his life. That is the way it should be. Our daughter on the other hand feels pressured to have the latest cell phone, expensive sneakers and designer labels. She’s unhappy that she can’t “keep up with the Joneses”. That is why we always tell her to be her OWN person and not try and make yourself into what you THINK others want you to be like and you will be A LOT happier. So what if she doesn’t have $80 Nike Air Force One sneakers. Does it make her any less of a person if she rather wear her purple Converse sneakers because she is comfortable in them? I think not.
These are just some of the life lessons that come to mind. What about YOU? What are the things you are trying to teach your children about life?
Coming to theaters on August 20, 2010 is Nanny McPhee Returns. My kids saw the original (I missed it) and thought it was a fun movie.
In Nanny McPhee returns, Nanny McPhee uses her magic to teach the mischievous children she is caring for five important life lessons. What could those lessons be? Do you have any idea? I guess we’ll just have to go and see the movie to find out. I think I’ll take my kids to see it next week. We haven’t been to the theater in ages.
Kimberly
*I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Nanny McPhee Returns blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
spring chicken says
I teach my daughter to stick up for herself in a respectful and nonviolent way. If someone bullies her she knows that she has adults and friends to go to for help. I also teach my daughter to stick up for others who are bullied.
diane says
I have three beautiful daughters and I’m extremely proud of them. One of the most important things that I have always tried to instill in them is the importance of family. I always want them to know that as a family we will always be there for one another-unconditionally and no matter what. Our home is always opened to family-and friends, and I think that because of the way we’ve lived by this motto, our daughters have grown into caring young women towards others. They have always gotten along well with one another and are even closer now that they are young adults and I feel blessed that they share that kind of relationship with one another. I think the best lessons we can give our children are the way we, as adults ,live our lives.
Lauralee Hensley says
The number one life lesson is that you have to be accountable for what you do.
Unfortunately it’s a hard lesson to teach when you see political figures on TV not being accountable, or people
who do serious crimes getting off with a slap on the wrist.
Yet, they need to know there are consequences to every
choice they make.