I'm grateful for my wonderful daughter's comment on one of the most significant periods in her life - everyone's life. This is the pass mark every parent craves from their children. Not every parent is so fortunate - being a parent is the most inexact science of all and for some the odds are stacked very high despite their best intentions. So how do you define childhood happiness? Is it regular birthday parties, lots of Xmas presents, heaps of friends, good schools, holidays overseas? Yes, they're a part of happy memories of childhood; but the foundations for a happy childhood are more complex than happy memories. Even the obvious element of unconditional love for children needs to be distilled to reveal the significance of ensuring feelings of absolute security and safety in their developing lives, freedom to succeed and to fail, setting boundaries not to be crossed, having high expectations for their future,just always being there no matter what. And the list goes on and on and on. I am so grateful for this very special tick on my parenting report card which of course I share with numerous others who have contributed to such a unique set of talents – highly intelligent, determined, compassionate, tolerant, mischievous, humorous, artistic, analytical, intuitive, caring and loving and a little shorter than average!
I'm grateful for my wonderful daughter's comment on one of the most significant periods in her life - everyone's life. This is the pass mark every parent craves from their children. Not every parent is so fortunate - being a parent is the most inexact science of all and for some the odds are stacked very high despite their best intentions.
ReplyDeleteSo how do you define childhood happiness? Is it regular birthday parties, lots of Xmas presents, heaps of friends, good schools, holidays overseas?
Yes, they're a part of happy memories of childhood; but the foundations for a happy childhood are more complex than happy memories. Even the obvious element of unconditional love for children needs to be distilled to reveal the significance of ensuring feelings of absolute security and safety in their developing lives, freedom to succeed and to fail, setting boundaries not to be crossed, having high expectations for their future,just always being there no matter what. And the list goes on and on and on.
I am so grateful for this very special tick on my parenting report card which of course I share with numerous others who have contributed to such a unique set of talents – highly intelligent, determined, compassionate, tolerant, mischievous, humorous, artistic, analytical, intuitive, caring and loving and a little shorter than average!
Ha Ha! Thank you for your heartfelt thoughtful comment Dad - I heart You! (and Mum of course)
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