A few weeks ago, the world didn’t end on May 21st as Harold Camping predicted. His forecast caused some folks to stop paying the mortgage and bills. I imagine they are now trying to recover from that decision.
Most things we spend time worrying about just don’t happen. Parents create anxiety about things that can happen to their kids, and that anxiety keeps them from just being kids.
I’m not saying there aren’t dangers in the world and it is your job to protect your child from real danger. But let’s distinguish danger from anxiety. Practice safety in all aspects of life, from the use of car seats, to child-proofing your home, to cyber protecting your kids to prohibiting alcohol to minors. These measures all make sense and do protect our children from real danger.
And then lighten up.
Allow your kids to play the way you used to play – outside and unstructured. Look for ways to celebrate life’s small milestones which help to shape what is in your control in this seemingly out of control world. What would you like your children to remember about their childhood?
One of life’s milestones is the last day of school. Each year I would leave work early to pick up the kids, and they knew I would be armed with water blasters. Of course, one was for me.
Why should they have all the fun?
“We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives.” - Maya Angelou
Have a great week!
Tina Nocera, Founder
Parental Wisdom®
