How do you “make” a flower grow? After you have carefully planted the seed, how do you “make” it grow? Do you stand over the soil and harshly shout? Grow flower! I said grow! I planted you and you must listen to me! Would you threaten the flower? If you do not grow right now, then no sunshine for you! When the flower doesn’t respond, would you punish it? Would you frustratingly stomp on the soil? Of course not. That wouldn’t make much sense. We know that a flower would not grow under those circumstances. You cannot “make” a flower grow. You simply LET a flower grow, in its own time, by nourishing it patiently and lovingly. You provide the flower with the optimal environment to bloom beautifully, and smile up at the sun with strength. When the flower wilts due to the elements, or for whatever reason, you do not punish the flower for wilting. You give it more water, more sunlight, more LOVE.
Our little ones are like flowers, and just like flowers, they do not need punishment. They need our nourishment. They need our patience. They need our love. Little ones do not need constant CORRECTION in order to bloom. They are not broken machines that require us to alter their parts so that they can function properly in the world. Little ones need constant CONNECTION in order to bloom. They are emotional beings that require our gentle, peaceful, mindful interaction so that when they go out into the world, they will change it for the better...
#ParentingBeyondPunishment
#BorrowedWords 💐
