“You always make each day such a special day. You know how? By just being you! There’s only one person in the whole world exactly like you. And that’s you yourself. And I like you just the way you are.”
This is a quote from Mister Fred Rogers the creator of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He changed the face of children’s television and transformed the way we think about the inner lives of young children.
We all know that parenting can be challenging, particularly in this age of technology. Our children are driven by the rise, and pervasiveness of smartphones and social media that has rapidly and dramatically changed the landscape of parenting. Many other scientific, and social changes of the 21st century have affected the task of parenting and parent-child relationships directly or indirectly. The impact of these changes can have many pros and cons, however “one of the most amazing aspects of parenting is watching your child grow from a tiny, helpless infant to a full-fledged child full of opinions, ideas, preferences, and styles,” says Lora Hoffstetter and Counseling Associates.
We know that all children are unique in their own ways, and one of our most important jobs as a parent is to nurture those qualities in our children that make them who they are. However, it is not always as easy as it sounds due to the fact that our lives are filled with challenges and demands that take us away from cultivating our child’s unique personality. In many ways, it can be simpler than we think and the rewards are infinite.
Raising children with a foundation of trust and self-esteem will help them weather any storm they find themselves up against—and it will allow them to embrace everyone’s differences with the same level of acceptance.
Lora Hoffstetter, suggests that to nurture your child’s true spirit means stepping back and letting them shine for who they are. Let them select some of their own extracurricular activities such as piano, little league or other areas of interest to them. Each child has their own unique gift and as parents we should allow them the autonomy to find the activity that fits their style.
Give your child a safe space to express themselves which will give you an opportunity to understand what they think about life. It is important that we view our children’s mistakes as learning opportunities. We should help them to see the lessons they could learn instead of making them feel shame and guilt.
If you are the parent of an extra special, standout kid, celebrate this difference. Accept them for who they are, and let them shine.
By Gwen Marshall,
UniteNews Contributing Writer
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