Rhino Rumblings

The Greatest Gifts We Can Give Our Children

When a child is born, parents are bestowed the utmost honor and responsibility. Raising a child is both extremely rewarding and very challenging. It has the potential to drive one "batty" and also the potential to produce much growth and maturity in the parents themselves. Children are born with innate qualities but they are also molded by the emotional environment in which they live. Children are born with the ability to create their individual slate of experiences. Significant people in their lives, together with the environment, write and draw upon it. Here are three ways that you can love your children deeply and teach them well.

1. In a loving way define yourself to your own parents making sure they know who you are. This could involve some conflict- all of which has the potential to produce growth and healing. By growing up yourself, you become free to allow your children to do the same. Children very rarely go beyond the maturity level of their parents. This thus becomes one of the more priceless gifts that you can give them.

2. Be present with them without worrying about the future. Pay attention to what they are saying, you may learn something. Children don't need the latest and greatest educational tools or toys. They need you. They need your time, encouragement and input in their lives. They will learn how to do relationships from you, not by what you say but by what you do.

3. Set consistent boundaries in your home that you are prepared to enforce. Discipline is what children need and want. Guidance is how you teach your child to treat people, that they are not the center of the universe and to respect all people.