“We hold the magic and we are the mirror”!

We moved into a new neighbourhood. I made a conscious effort to introduce myself to our new neighbours and took my children with me. Whilst the conversation on their doorstep was brief, it taught my children a lot!

Our actions as a parent are mirrored by our children. Everything we do or say is inscribed on our child’s mind. 

We must be conscious of this when we question our child’s actions. Our actions and our method of discipline, can often contradict and spike confusion in our child’s mind. It is therefore important to ensure that we set a good example. As a parent we can teach our children through our own practice. 

The magic

Simple gestures can make all the difference:

Hold the door open for someone behind you

Wave good morning to your neighbour

Remember your manners when addressing individuals

Ask questions when you feel curious

Share with your family and friends

Give way when you are driving

Pay someone a compliment

Invite friends over for dinner

Take a gift when you are invited to someone house

 

The mirror

These actions when mirrored, will teach them to:

Be respectful

Treat everyone as equal

Learn about their environment

Make friends

Be kind

Be generous

Be patient

Be compassionate

Empathise with others

Not all lessons are learned in school. Before we address our child’s behaviour, it is important to question “where” that behaviour has originated from. 

More often than not, our Childs personality is a reflection of us!

Take my daughter for example, she is a carbon copy of her dad. She is quiet, likes to take things in her stride and has adopted a lot of his habits. My son on the other hand is quite literally a male version of me! I am shocked at how similar we both are.  He wears his heart on his sleeve, he is sensitive, loves to dance and makes friends with ease.

I often listen to my children speaking and often wonder “how does he or she know that word”?! Then, I realise when I use the word myself, “Ah they got that from me”.

In the same way, if I am conscious about my weight, I could project this insecurity on to my daughter OR

If I feel things should be done in a certain way because I said so, and then I say “whilst you live under my roof you will abide by my rules”. What do you think will happen?

If these are the messages which I am sending out through the mirror, these are the behaviours my children will adopt towards me and others because this is what they see and hear.

So you see, to be a conscious parent you need to address your own insecurities and ego first. It is important to break the cycle.  Otherwise we pass on our blocks, beliefs and limitations to our children. If we want our children to flourish, we need to flourish too. We need to move forward with clarity and a positive mindset. Our kids will see this in the mirror and practice the same.

If you are curious to find out more, please drop me a message. I would be happy to have a no obligation discovery call with you!