The First C - Connection

CONNECTION

“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.”

Rachel Naomi Remen

Connection is the one way that we can help our kids feel loved.   We find it easier to connect when our children are babies, helpless and dependent on us for everything.  We are constantly holding and feeding and attending to our babies.  We anxiously wait to hear every sound our baby makes and watch for every development in our baby: first coo, first smile, first laugh, first steps.  The challenge is when our babies grow up and become more independent.  How then do we build connection?

We can start by listening.  That means stop what we are doing no matter how important what we are doing may seem at the time and just LISTEN.  This is very challenging with our busy lives - cellphones, work assignments, and driving our kids to sports.  It is extremely important, however, if we want a close relationship with our children.  When our children talk, we need to stop what we are doing and just listen.

Parenting

Parenting is the most difficult job in the world.  It tests all your patience and your energy.  Parenting is also the most important thing you will ever do and the most rewarding.  Ask any parent and he/she will say they can’t imagine their life without children.  How to minimize the bumps and maximize the thrills and joys in parenting is the real challenge.

Now on to the first C in The Three C's of Parenting Guide  . . .

My Story

I am the mother of two, a teen (13) and a toddler (3).  The joys and the challenges of parenting these two stages of child development are evident everyday.  My older one makes me realize how fast time goes by and my younger one shows me the little things to be grateful for.  Each stage has its challenges and everyday I'm learning more.  As I go through this journey of parenting a teen and a tot, I take what I've learned working with children for 21 years, as a teacher and a counsellor, and what I've learned from other parents and I apply this knowledge to my own parenting.

As a result of my years of experience in child education and from my own experiences of parenting, I am in the process of developing a guide to bring parents closer to their children and for children to be given what they need to thrive and become caring adults.  Over many more posts to come, I will be revealing my guide titled, The Three C's of Parenting.  I hope it will be helpful in your parenting journey.  Enjoy!