#1 - Quality Time/Getting Involved
#2 - Patience
#3 - Express Love
#4 - Be an Example-
No matter how much quality time you spend with your kids, the amount of patience you have, or how much you express your love to them, they look to you for an example for the kind of person they should be. Be a good example to your children. Words are meaningless unless you can back them up. You can tell your kids how to act until you're blue in the face, but until they see how you live your life, it won't become a reality.
I am learning this lesson with my son. He is not even 2.5 years old yet, but is a complete parrot and will repeat whatever he hers. I have to be an example of good, clean, positive speech, because that's the way I want my son speaking. That being said, he's already picked up "Holy Smokes" from me....but I guess it could be worse (and its actually pretty cute when he says it!).
My son learns so many new things each day. It amazes me what he and children his age are able to learn and understand at such a young age. They learn so quickly because they are constantly observing the world around them. They are constantly watching YOU. They look up to you and turn to your example to figure out how to act in this crazy world (I know, I was a child once!). When you're children look at you, do they see someone who practices what they preach? or do they see someone constantly making poor choices and acting contrary to your own admonitions?
Here are a few significant ways your example can teach your children:
- Honesty/Integrity - Be 100% honest. We all want our children to live an honest life, show them honesty in all that you do. Yes, this means when you can get free admission for children under 5, and you have a small 6 year old, you do the right thing and pay! They WILL remember.
- Spirituality - If you want to raise a child respecting and living your religion - Pray, read scripture, worship, and be obedient to God's will and commandments. If you do not value God and religion, odds are, they won't either.
- Patience - This is an especially tough one for me (and a lot of us, I think). We need to remember, not only to be patient with our children, but to be patient with others around our children. So, next time you go to your son's basketball game, take it easy on the refs! (besides, that could be me out there!).
- Relationships - Nurture your marriage. Make sure they see you kiss, hold hands, and give complements to their mother. Be an example of how a person is supposed to treat their spouse. This will be an invaluable lesson as they grow, date, and eventually get married.
- Good Habits - I cannot say enough about establishing good habits in your life for your children to see. Or, rather, not having destructive habits in your life which your children could try to emulate. If you don't want your children to smoke, don't smoke. If you want your children to eat healthy foods, you better be eating your vegetables too. This principle goes further than what we consume, of course, it includes money management (do we spend frivilously or do we save wisely?), addictions (alcohol, tobacco, pornography, etc.), and simple hygiene (my dad is an avid flosser - so am I).
