Always keep your promises.....

The best parenting advice I have ever recieved came from a 90 year old woman who was talking to me about raising her 7 children and even some grandchildren. She asked me "Do you want to know the secret to being a good parent?" Me who was expecting "YES!! Of course". This woman who has been through having and losing children ( and definitley qualified to give advise!) said "Always keep your promises: whether they are promises of a reward, punishment, time you will spend with your child....Always keep your promise. If you can not keep the promise - don't say it." 

You guys this is awesome, everything about parenting really comes down to keeping your promises...

- You tell them they will get ice cream if they are good, take them!

- You say "If you do that one more time..... " follow through on that threat

-You say you will play with them (outside, singing, games whatever) after you finish something you are doing, guess what? You better do it! Spending time with our kids is so, so valuable, every parenting article out there essentially boils down to  "Spend time with you kids".

The above examples are very oversimplified, but come down to one thing, when you keep your promises your kids know you mean what you say, they know they can count on and depend on  you.  And bonus - they will LISTEN when you speak because they have learned you mean what you say!!! They learn to honor and keep promises they make themselves. They learn words are not shallow, not just window dressing, but have meaning especially when spoken as a promise. They take this into adult hood, they learn to be on time, they learn to be good friends, good workers, honorable and happy people. 

Kids do not understand broken promises, actions speak louder than words. If you follow your promises with the action, your word becomes trustworthy and you are considered honorable. If you do not know if you can do it, then just dont say it!! Don't be a "YES" man - saying yes to everyone and then not doing what you said you would. 

I love this qoute: 

“In a world where vows are worthless. Where making a pledge means nothing. Where promises are made to be broken, it would be nice to see words come back into power.” 
― Chuck Palahniuk, Lullaby

Please, please if you promise your kids - keep it!! (The best parenting adivise from someone who knows - unnamed 90 year old mom, grandmother and great grandmother!)

Blessings

April of Running Mom Photography

Always trying to keep my promises

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