Mama's Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Livin, Svetlana Konnikova [classic fiction .TXT] 📗

15. Be Fair, Dependable, Truthful, and Reliable

Take the courage, liberty, and responsibility for your life, your actions, and your family. Otherwise, numbers 1–14 won’t matter at all.

264 ^ Mama’s Home Remedies

Mama’s memos about children

^ Al children are bright and smart. They are the most amazing miracles given to you. They are beautiful, talented, and kindhearted.

^ You love them with all your heart, even if they give you a hard time sometimes. But what are mothers for? The answer is simple: Forgive no matter what, because you and no one else brought them into this wonderful world.

^ Never forget that you are the mother. Accept this title with the big responsibility which comes with it. Moms are like apple trees, blooming with delicate rose-white spring flowers. These flowers turn one day into fresh green apples. These are our children, sitting happily in our arms (branches) until we give them a chance to fly high in life.

^ Feel obligated to give children a right direction before they wil sail independently. It’s your sacred duty. Know quite wel that they will demand too much from you. They always test you too.

^ Should you spoil them? Yes, you should, but do it in a smart and reasonable way because nobody will do it so lovingly as you’ll do as their mother. You gave birth to them and the right to live on the planet Earth.

^ Sort out your priorities and you’l discover that your No.1 obligation is to create for your children a comfortable home that they wil respect, wil want to be part of, and wil desire to live in.

^ Think over and over again about your great responsibility to be the mother and how important it is to provide your children with a warm home and a happy, encouraging atmosphere. If you are able to do it, they wil never forget where they came from.

^ All children prefer their parents to be firm with them, but they will never tell you that. However, it makes them feel more secure and confident if you keep your word.

As Isis, So Is Mama… @ 265

^ Detect when your children form bad habits. Don’t miss these, especially in the early ages. At this stage you’ll be able to help them efficiently. You can explain to them the difference between bad and good things, positive and negative acts. This approach will help you prevent them from destroying their lives in the future.

^ Put yourself on high alert during the first seven years of the lives of your children. These years are very special. This is a very important time when they learn, with your help, the basics of life and how to be a good human being. It is crucial that we teach our children wholesome values they will carry with them through the rest of their days.

^ Always tell them how good they are. Never let them down. Don’t intimidate them or make them shy.

^ If your children do something wrong, talk to them quietly in private. Explain in a kind manner their mistakes. Always do that no matter how angry you are at the moment. Keep your

anger to yourself.

^ Never correct them in front of others, especial y their friends. They want to look good in other people’s eyes. Your children will notice how you behave yourself and wil appreciate it.

^ Keep your discontent to yourself if you disagree with you husband on how you should raise your children. Never argue with him in front of them. It makes them feel unhappy and unsafe when their parents, who are supposed to be strong and powerful adults, cannot find common ground.

^ Let your children see a harmony in your actions and your good relationship with your spouse. They will grow to be happy and confident people.

^ Never nag your children again and again about their mistakes. Don’t threaten them with punishment or say that the mistake is equal to a sin. They become confused. It upsets their sense of values.

266 ^ Mama’s Home Remedies

^ Be loving, kind, and protective, but don’t protect them from consequences. They need to see and learn the painful way once in a while.

^ Don’t promise your children too much as an impulse of your good mood. Be fair and reasonable with your promises. Try to keep your word no matter what. Remember, they’ll feel very disappointed and greatly let down if the promises are broken.

^ Don’t demand explanations from your children. They will never explain themselves the way you do. They will not always be precise and accurate as you think they should be.

^ Forgive your children their bad behavior or bad attitude towards you.

^ Don’t fight with your children. Don’t try to prove your point. Remember that you brought them into the world. Very soon

they will stand on the thorny path of life and will try to make something of it. Only you are their first friend, mentor, an aide in each step. Be patient, fair, and resolve everything peacefully so they will have you to depend on.

^ Don’t be inconsistent