How to help a child feel loved
Photo Copyright ©2007 by Maureen Shaughnessy. All rights reserved
I subscribe to a wonderful weekly letter titled "Friday's Focus" This week's message from Carrie and Danielle struck me as so true today I had to share it with my blog readers. Thanks to my young friend, Grace, for her spontaneous joy and impishness ... by way of illustrating the concept of respecting a child's feelings and making him/her feel loved. Here is this week's Friday Focus from Carrie and Danielle:
When I approach a child, (s)he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what (s)he is, and respect for what (s)he may become.
- Louis Pasteur
Photo Copyright ©2007 by Maureen Shaughnessy. All rights reserved
How would you feel if, when you first met someone new, they said to you, “Are you going to play shy?” or “Looks like someone’s in a bad mood.” What would you think if, when you needed a good boo-hoo, your friend said, “You’re fine. Don’t cry.” And if someone had an issue with you and they let you know about it in front of everyone in the room, how would that go down with you?Grown ups say the darndest things to kids - things we’d never dare say to a fellow adult. And in the process it can create tremendous confusion between a little person’s genuine feelings and what they’re being told to feel. It’s a discombobulation that many of us carry far into adulthood as we fumble to “get in touch with our feelings.”
(Just a reminder as we come into a season of spending time with family members of all ages ...) be conscious of your power with kids. Whether you’re a Mama Bear or a distant big cousin, this basic approach is divine: Don’t say anything to a child that you wouldn’t say to a grown up you adored. When you were a kid, how sparkling and “in,” and loved did you feel when a big person talked to you as though your feelings and opinions truly mattered? Whether sad, mad, silly, or giggly, having your feelings respected fuels your shine - at every age.
5 comments:
Kudos for a greatly needed post!
Oh the photos are outstanding - great model
Thank you, my friend for the compliments. The kudos really go to Carrie and Danielle ... I rarely just post somebody else's post, but this time I had to post the whole thing it was so well written and a point well taken. I encourage you and all of my photoblog readers to sign up for Carrie and Danielle's weekly email, Friday's Focus - it's inspirational. If you click on that link and look on the left sidebar, you can see a list of their past letter topics ... worth browsing.
Hope you're staying warm this winter. Happy Solstice on Friday :o))
Kudos from me too, Maureen. More adults need to hear this message-really hear it.
What a lovely, gentle reminder, thank you.
Pam, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to see your comment -- I have been a bit distracted from my blog(s) lately ... I hope you're doing well and feeling strong these days.
sc: thank you for reading and commenting. Good to know people are actually reading this post. I hope you hceck out Carrie and Danielle's weekly inspiration, "Friday's Focus" -- they truly are motivators. btw, do you have a blog or website?
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