I write a letter to my mother every day, because in that letter, I write down my day. And if I don't write it down, then tomorrow I will forget it and it's gone.
Isabel AllendeRead
My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, 'You're tearing up the grass'; 'We're not raising grass,' Dad would reply. 'We're raising boys.'
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of prioritizing children’s growth and experiences over maintaining a perfect lawn.
Harmon Killebrew's quote reflects the playful and nurturing approach of a father who values the development and happiness of his children more than material concerns like maintaining a pristine yard. It highlights how the joy of childhood and the bond between parents and children serve a greater purpose than simply adhering to societal standards of order and aesthetic.
In practice
This quote would be perfect to share at a family gathering to highlight the value of playful parenting.
I write a letter to my mother every day, because in that letter, I write down my day. And if I don't write it down, then tomorrow I will forget it and it's gone.
Affirming words from moms and dads are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child's life and it's like lighting up a whole roomful of possibilities.
Children exist in the world as well as in the family. From the moment they are born, they depend on a host of other “grownups” — grandparents, neighbors, teachers, ministers, employers, political leaders, and untold others who touch their lives directly and indirectly.
You parents of the wilful and the wayward! Don't give them up. Don't cast them off. They are not utterly lost. The Shepherd will find his sheep. They were His before they were yours - long before He entrusted them to your care; and you cannot begin to love them as He loves them.
If you are too busy in your church activities to take care of your family, then perhaps we had better find something else for you to do.
I was raised, myself, by extremely strict but also extremely loving Chinese immigrant parents. To this day, I believe that their having high expectations for me, coupled with love, was the greatest gift that anyone's ever given me. And so that's why, even though my husband is not Chinese, I try to raise my own two daughters the same way.
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