WEEK 7 – Let them be themselves.
“Do not ask that your kids live up to your expectations. Let your kids be who they are, and your expectations will be in breathless pursuit.”
~ Robert Brault ~
I first came across this quote on one of my favourite blogs, Picklebums. It really struck a chord with me. It’s so easy to burden our children with our expectations. Expectations that they will excel at sports, or shine at school, or that they will be perfectly behaved, pursue a particular career or even have the same interests as ourselves. If we could, just for a moment, put aside all our preconceived ideas of who we want our children to become, we might just see what amazing and beautiful individuals they already are. Let them be themselves. Let them shine. Let them pursue their own passions, even if they are not your own. In a way, this is a practise of letting go in order to connect. Accept them for who they are. There really is no greater gift you could give your child.
If you are joining us for the first time ~ welcome! At the end of this post you will find the links for week 1 through 5. Each week for the next ten weeks, I’ll be sharing one simple idea that you can implement today to foster a more connected relationship with your child. It is my hope that by the end of the ten weeks we will be more present for our children, and more mindful of the type of parent we want to be. With each idea being so simple, and with only one intention to focus on each week, I know we can do this. Will you join me?
Here are the links for all 10 weeks of this series.
Week 1 – See them.
Week 2 – Listen.
Week 3 – Say yes.
Week 4 – Begin each day with play.
Week 5 – Come from a place of love.
Week 6 – Believe in them.
Week 7 – Let them be themselves.
Week 8 – Switch off, tune in.
Week 9 – Be a real person. Share yourself.
Week 10 – Be kind to yourself. You are enough.
If this is your first time visiting One Perfect Day – welcome! If you like what you have found, please join us on our Facebook page. We are always sharing new ideas to play, learn, create and explore.
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What a wonderful way to connect with your child! I think it is so important to let the little ones be themselves ~ play with toys they like to play with, participate in activities that they enjoy, or just be their quirky selves.
Individuality is what makes the world go around. Thanks for sharing this, Ness!
That is one of my favourite quotes these days… and I stumbled upon it after a day when I assumed my kids would not behave – and it would have been quite reasonable for them to have been horrible given what I asked of them that day… but they did behave, in fact they blew me away with how patient and understanding and helpful they were. So glad they didn’t live up to my expectations!
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an amazing point. in the days when parents are struggling to keep up with the jones’, it seems like kiddos are getting pushed harder and harder. and often into things they don’t want to do, i’m sure.
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