The Value of Example

Last night I pulled out a Classic Comedies DVD and sat back hoping to have a little humor added to my day. I laughed at the commercials. These companies were spending high dollars to pay the actors to act out these situation comedies. Yet when it came time to sell their product , up would come a poster board picture and someone in the background saying , "be sure to buy Listerine."

Sadly though I saw another product was being sold to America at that time , and whoever was behind it , was not dumb. The very best actors were being able to convince America that it was funny to be deceitful. That truth was not important if it was all in fun. A man wearing a girdle to convince he had lost weight and win a bet. Another man paying his child to take his to small pants to the store and exchange them for a bigger size so that he could convince his wife that he had lost weight, very funny stuff back then in the fifties.

As more and more people stopped interacting with their children but started spending free time with them watching TV , the children saw less and less what their real parents would do in situations.

The examples for doing right became more and more rare.

What I hope parents who come to the GATES Parenting Support Group realize is that their example is what really counts.

The children may or may not change when you use Love and Logic Parenting Techniques , but you the parent will become more self aware of the example you are giving your child.

I encourage parents to share Love and Logic moments so they can be applauded for their efforts .

So here are some questions to keep in mind for this month.

Did you offer your child some choices with limits , rather than say, " this is what I want you to do."?

Did you make an enforceable statement instead of an unenforceable statement , for a time when it was a matter of the child did need to heed what you were saying and do what you wanted them to do ?

When you had to give a consequence did you give it with empathy , letting them know that you were concerned about their unhappiness , but because you loved them you and would rather see them unhappy so they could have a learning moment.

Have a fun month with your children. Love is a happy feeling.