John has always made it clear that there was one thing in his grandmother’s house that he wanted — and now that prize lives at our house. His mom made this collage of a precious poem by Dorothy Law Nolte, and it truly represented how she mothered him, how my parents treated me, and how John and I aspire to parent our children. When John’s uncle brought this to us, he shared that the frame this is in was actually a wedding gift (and there is a religious painting behind it) for Grandma and Grandpa Bindel. (I have not looked at the painting because the framing is very well done and I do not want to disturb it. Someday I will peak.) This hangs on our wall as an often much-needed reminder to me. I am so thankful and proud to have it!
CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
Dorothy Law Nolte
If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with fear,
he learns to be apprehensive.
he learns to be apprehensive.
If a child lives with pity,
he learns to feel sorry for himself.
he learns to feel sorry for himself.
If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with jealousy,
he learns what envy is.
he learns what envy is.
If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.
he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns to be confident.
he learns to be confident.
If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with praise,
he learns to be appreciative.
he learns to be appreciative.
If a child lives with acceptance,
he learns to love.
he learns to love.
If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with recognition,
he learns that it is good to have a goal.
he learns that it is good to have a goal.
If a child lives with sharing,
he learns about generosity.
he learns about generosity.
If a child lives with honesty and fairness,
he learns what truth and justice are.
he learns what truth and justice are.
If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith in himself and in those about him.
he learns to have faith in himself and in those about him.
If a child lives with friendliness,
he learns that the world is a nice place in which to live.
he learns that the world is a nice place in which to live.
If you live with serenity,
your child will live with peace of mind.
your child will live with peace of mind.
With what is your child living?