Parenting List that Works for Me

I am raising three kids of my own. That is one of the things I can be very proud of. I had my child-bearing years when I was 24, 25 and 28 years old consecutively. While giving births, I had a teaching career on the side. I was not prepared for such enormous responsibilities of raising kids, who were coming in succession, while other people of same age were partying and storming the corporate worlds for knock-out careers, I was tending to my babies. I could not compete with those who have the luxury of time for their careers. I needed, and I still do, to devote my time because there was point when my three children were all under the age of five.

Young, a new parent and unprepared, I helped myself with constant readings about parenting books and attending parenting workshops. I knew parenting was the "career" for me. I believe that parenting my kids is my life-long calling. This life-long vocation means no ifs, no buts and no conditions.

After almost eleven years of devoting my time to my children I have the following that hold true for me:

1. Catch them being good. Never ever hold positive praises.
2. Communicate to them about good, bad or worse things. Do not just talk to them.
3. Provide all the good things. Not necessarily luxury or comfort. What counts is the experience and learning they can get.
4. Answer when they ask questions. Nothing is too silly for learning.
5. Set them free. Let them be with variety of people. If they can differentiate the good that you taught them from the bad, they can evaluate the difference.
6. Let them be exposed to other cultures. It will teach them to be open-minded and less judgmental of people.
7. Be careful that they not only hear what I say, but they observe how you live.
8. Love them unconditionally. They will reciprocate it to anyone.
9. Pro-longed gratification brings better EQ than instant rewards.
10. Choices bring forth better decision-making.
11. More often than not, love is spelled as T-I-M-E which means no rewind, no replay.

(image from www.sci-con.org)