Since parenting isn’t for cowards, I thought it’d be fun to see if I could come up with 26 snippets of advice for new and not-so-new parents. While this list is hardly conclusive, I know you have sage wisdom to add–be sure to chime in in comments!
A, B, C’s of Parenting
Affirm your children’s strengths.
Believe in their potential.
Create boundaries.
Discover dreams with them not for them.
Encourage them often.
Forgive freely.
Give them room to fail.
Hug at least once a day.
Ignore childish acts, discipline the foolish (make sure to learn the difference).
Jealously guard family time.
Kindness is something you should model for them.
Love openly, laugh often, listen** attentively (not just with your ears but also with your eyes).
Manners are a must!
Never compare siblings to each other.
Offer prayers for them & give them opportunity to pray with you.
Play games with them.
Quantity time IS quality time.
Remember you’re raising them for someone else, not yourself.
Savor each season!
Teach, train and touch them, lovingly and often.
Understand they will disappoint you on occasion…they aren’t perfect.
Verbalize your love and gratitude.
Welcome their friends in your home.
Xylophones are a gift that keeps on “giving”…if you choose to get one for your toddler you’ve been duly warned….
Yell only when necessary, but realize sometimes it IS necessary!
Zaniness goes a loooong way towards keeping your kids off balance (and your home fun); as your children get older, you will need to use all the creative means at your disposal to gain an advantage!
Visit Swampy for this week’s complete Fun Monday participant listing; and be sure to check back HERE at Robin’s PENSIEVE on Tuesday for next week’s challenge…hopefully it’ll be a good one ’cause by that time I’m gonna be another year older…and maybe even wiser ;).
** Thanks for reminding me to add that Kelly!
Photo credit: allposters.com
Your list is wonderful and well thought out. I applaud each and every item listed. Your list reminds me what a fabulous parent you must be.
Here Here! Molly has said it all. You are a beautiful person and a great mama!
I hear printers going all over the world…
Funny, “Yell” was my “y” word too!
Very well done. I am impressed.
xylophones…. oh Robin… that was unexpected!
You should print this one on a book mark or a refrigerator magnet.
It would be great little reminders for parents.
Excellent list Robin.
Parenting! Why didn’t I think of that?
I love this list Robin..especially the dreams for them, by them…very well said!!
excellent advice all…
and sign me up for next week, would you? i trust ya … and i can always break the rules if it’s something i can’t do 😉
Love this post so much! I’m keeping a copy to remind myself…once I’m a Mom ya know! 😉
Happy Easter and have a great Fun Monday!
I saw this and was reminded of a post that I wrote in 2006. Since it was Easter I decided to resurrect it and link here. 😉
I could have used your alphabet loooooong time ago, lol !
Thanks for the GREAT advice! Job well done!
Well, you gave me goose bumps! I am going to print your list and send it to all my children. What a wonderful way to use your Fun Monday time. That was very well thought out and so so so useful. You never cease to amaze me, my dear trashy friend. Thanks for starting my Monday with a warm fuzzy.
X = xylophone? Only you could make that work.
What a great list all things to aspire to but I particularly like R and U.
Love it! Especially the L’s.
Great list Robin! I love it. You obviously put a lot of thought into it, unlike me.
GREAT list! I love how you worked Xylophones in! I was waiting to see who’d do it first! 😉
This is an awesome list! I would add:
Listen.
I need that reminder every hour or so…
Schoolhouse Rock Meets Fun Monday (or Life’s Little Instructions for Parents)
A must-read if you’re planning to or already have children. For new parents, seasoned veterans or parents-to-be! Twenty-six tips for success along with a forum to add your own two cents.
Xylophones! Ah yes the memories!
Well done Robin. Good advice!
Molly, interestingly, I find myself thinking of dozens of other things I could’ve added…maybe I should do a follow-up post??
Karisma, **blushing** Sweet words, friend :).
Sayre, you’ve got me curious! Can’t wait to see what you’re yellin’ about ;).
Celeste, Peter, Katie & Ellen B., why thank y’all!! 🙂
Pamela, Hmmmm, you’ve given me a little idea :).
Min, you mean for Fun Monday or w/Vi & Reggie? Cause if it’s the latter, you aren’t foolin’ anybody.
Thanks, Alison, that was/is one of my favorites, too :).
Ah…Janet, brave soul you are :). Nah…I think (hope?) it’s gonna be one many will enjoy!!
Mariposa, well, now…I’m a published author now, eh? 🙂
Ok, Inheritor…I don’t see no stinkin’ link (other than to your general webpage), but I’ll go fishin’ and find it, k?
Gattina, ummm, it’s never too late, is it??
Swampy, funny enough, I thought of a half dozen OTHER ways to handle your challenge; I’m not sure why I settled on this one (because goodness knows, I don’t know much!). That being said, I’m g l a d I settled on this ’cause people are being so stinkin’ nice :). THANKS TO YOU for being the impetus!!
Alix & Hula Girl, y’all zoned in on some of my other favorites!! Great minds?? 🙂
Simply Jenn, Hmmm, I’ve gotta see what you slapped together 😉 (j/k).
Karina, am I really the first (you saw) to figure out a “legitimate” way to use it? Ha! I was too lazy to get my dictionary to figure out other “X” words :).
Kelly, I MEANT to go back and add that (thought of it, too, after posting). I did go back and add it, hattipping YOU for the reminder :). Thanks!
Junebug, HOW COULD WE FORGET?????!!!!!
Sorry!…Here’s the link
http://oncedeadbutnowalive.blogspot.com/2008/03/abc-monday.html
What a wonderful list, it’s a good reminder for all parents and grandparents!!
i love R! some parents think that encourage their boys to BE MEAN or YOURE MEAN said in an encouraging way is a good thing! and then they laugh when the kids whack relatives on or about the face. or ignoring behaviors that could get them into troule and then wondering WHY the teachers ‘pick’ on their kids for cussing, fighting, etc.
you’re raising them for society and to be a future spouse, lover, parent, or just a great person, and to teach them those things is awful in my opinion!
way to go! (impersonates arsenio hall) woof woof woof!
How can we add to that?!?!
Beautiful list, nicely done.
Oh, P.S…I want to play in your Mon Funday next week…now, what did you say the RULES were?
We got a keyboard for our grandson. 🙂 The joys of being a grandparent. 🙂
Zaniness, always good. And yeah. you can add me to FM next week, I’ll obey the rules. 🙂
I love this list Robin. And put me down for next week. And, Happy Birthday for tomorrow??
😀
Wow! What a perfect list. I LOVE it.
Great post. Your list is fun and beautiful. I thought of one for S – Sprinkle kindness on your words.
Lucky kids at your house. I was amused that some of your list are the same as I have for my dogs–are the two that close??? Loved zaniness–don’t have kids, but I lived for a time with a young family and can still remember how much fun we had–even eating dinner.
I am high fiving you on the manners. Where have they gone? Is it so had to say please and thank you? I guess for some people it is.
Love your list. Parenting, the best job in the world.
I’m laughing at Mariposa’s comments! But well, I agree, this is such a beautiful list…go publish it!
Happy FM!
Hi Robin, you have done a great job with your ABC’s for fun Monday…I need to email your list to my daughters..thanks for sharing with us. hugs, Baba
You’re welcome! Thanks for including it in your awesome list!
sound like you have experance with that list.
Thanks for sharing
Wonderful advice
You did a GREAT job!!! =) That was really cool to read!!!
Marvellous list! I think you sould turn it into a book! Is it too early to sign up for next week’s Fun Monday? I’m in. I missed the sign up for the ABC’s and it would have been fun.
all the best-
Patience
awesome list!! 🙂
XYZ for me, Robin! Just kidding. Your whole list was terrific. Thank you.