For quite a while I have been giving serious thought to presenting, on my blog, the information from a small book my husband wrote because, in spite of all of our best efforts and prayers, things don’t always go the way we would have hoped. I would continue my regular posts on Fridays and add another day for this. Today I told Dave what I had in mind.
Was it a coincidence that he was sitting at that very moment at his computer (which is right next to my computer) reading a newspaper column by Carmen Rasmusen Herbert entitled “Don't worry; be a happy parent.” ?
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865595056/Don’t-worry-be-a-happy-parent.html
We don’t believe in coincidence.
Carmen worries about being a good parent and she gives some of her concerns and conclusions. She also quotes from others. I’ll list a few highlights. Hopefully your interest will be piqued enough to check out her article and get “the rest of the story.”
I will print Carmen’s words in red and the others she quotes in different colors.
As I’ve sat and thought (and worried) about who and what is influencing my boys, I came across an interesting article from Forbes titled “7 Crippling Parenting Behaviors that Keep Children from Growing into Leaders.”
According to Forbes contributor Kathy Caprino, one of the behaviors to watch out for is "rescu(ing) too quickly."
Another hindering behavior, according to Caprino, is that "we rave too easily."
I heard this before I had kids and thought it was ridiculous. How is it possible to praise a child too much?
In his recent acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, actor Matthew McConaughey said his mother strongly encouraged adventure and hard work.
“If it was daylight, you had to be outside playing, and we’d go, ‘Why, mom?’ and she’d say, ‘Don’t watch somebody on TV do it for you, go out and do it for yourself.’ ” Because of her encouragement and support, McConaughey’s mother was a positive influence in her son’s life.
“Because we’re not the only influence on our kids, we must be the best influence,” Caprino writes.
The best influence. That's a lot of responsibility.
Dr. Tim Elmore, author of “Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save Their Future,” “Artificial Maturity: Helping Kids Meet the Challenges of Becoming Authentic Adults” and “Habitudes,” shares:
“It’s important for parents to become exceedingly self-aware of their words and actions when interacting with their children, or with others when their children are nearby. Care enough to train them, not merely treat them to a good life. Coach them, more than coddle."
Part of taking the worrying out of living is the knowledge that you’re continually striving to do your best and teach correct principles by training and coaching and then allowing your kids to fall, fail and find themselves. That, I think, is the toughest, most crucial part.
Carmen’s article was the answer and perfect introduction to what I have felt the need to do.
This small booklet evolved from a talk Dave gave in Church in November 2006. It was not a traditional talk but apparently helped a lot of people realize they were “not alone.”
Two months later we printed six copies of the talk. Those initial copies developed into this booklet. It has been printed in small quantities (10-25) at a time, as requested, through only word of mouth “advertising.” We quit keeping track of the numbers in December 2010 after we passed the 500 mark, but now print 50 at a time.
We are saddened that such a need exists, but hopeful that it may be of some value in helping you through your trying times. We are very thankful for our son who was willing to let Dave tell the story, and then, it’s transformation into a book. He has even passed them out to others from the very beginning. We appreciate his willingness to do this and are proud of the decisions he is finally making.
“The Best Help is NO HELP” contains hard answers to hard questions about helping an addicted child or loved one.
I will begin posting from this book on Wednesdays, beginning February 5th,
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