We agreed that remorse or a breach of trust is punishment enough and that wanting to do better is an excellent lesson learnt.
Children teach us so much!
If we trust them.
I made so many mistakes in my early years as a parent. I still make mistakes. Punishment wouldn’t help me grow or do better. I WANT to do better. It’s relationship, grace and empathy that teach me.
We all try daily to do better. I know older children respect that. Children are so gracious. I want to be a gracious parent.
Let’s trust the process.
Nurture + Nature = Maturity.
Nurture (loving guidance) and nature (time and essence) are enough.
Above all, a healthy relationship is the greatest motivator and influence in a child’s life.
~Lelia.
(A tribute to my daughter on her 12th birthday…thank you for your loving friendship and for inspiring me.)
Lelia Schott is a grateful mother to four sons and two daughters aged 22, 20, 18, 15, 8 and 5 years old. She is the founder of the International child and gentle parent advocacy group Synergy Gentle Parenting. Lelia loves to write and coach parents online or from her practice in South Africa in between homeschooling and swimming in the ocean. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.
