Good Begets Good

Why is it so hard for people to see that when applied to children? We must mold, we must sculpt, me must coerce. So not true. I know for me growing up, if I was being forced to do something I didn't want to do, I would do the opposite. Or at least want to do the opposite. Scott Noelle this morning:

THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

:: Goodness Is Inspired, Not Required ::

Situation 1:
You ask your friend what she wants for a birthday
gift, and she says, "I would treasure *any* gift
from you!"

Wouldn't you feel inspired to give her something
very special?

Situation 2:
Another friend says, "I hope you're getting me
something *good* for my birthday... I just *hate*
tacky gifts!"

Wouldn't you feel like giving this friend a pile
of fake dog poop?! :-)

The point is that you feel most inspired to
please
others when you don't feel pressured or coerced
--
when you don't "have to."

Children are no different. They love to please
others,
especially their parents, so long as their
inspiration
to share pleasure isn't confounded by implied
threats
of punishment, reward, or withdrawal of approval.

Today, let go of all "required goodness" by
affirming
that your child is inherently good, and is *free*
to
express that goodness... and free *not* to
express it.

Remember that the best way to foster children's
authentic goodness is to let them see how much
*you*
enjoy expressing your own goodness.

http://dailygroove.net/inspired-not-required

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Abbi leaves for French camp today. 12 days of not talking to her! What am I gonna do? She's kind of questioning why she choose 2 weeks. Yet, I remember her saying she wanted to learn as much as she could while she's there. We talked about it yesterday as she was packing. She's a bit nervous. I told her I remembered being at camp (not this one but a different type)and that most of the time I was pretty busy and didn't have much time to be homesick. Don't know if that helped or not...seemed to though. She's brave, she doesn't know anyone there, yet she still wants to go.

Here she is at Bemidji state park. That's pretty much the setting she'll be in at camp the next couple weeks, it's right down the road from us.

Both are ;) park and camp.

Have a great time Abbidoo!