Parenting 101

Natural consequences are far worse than anything we could do as parents. It is not about being disobedient or not listening to us. It's about not caring about yourself enough to pay attention. As parents our hearts hurt just as much when mistakes are realized.
But not only because of disobedience. But out of the nature of natural consequences.
They are scary and bring things to light like maturity, reality and truth.
And as the saying goes...the truth hurts.

It stops being about us and our feelings long before we are ready to stop taking it personally. It's not about us. Maybe it never was. For many it will never be about making their parents happy. They have to find that compass from within.

The trick for parenting is this: to be available to them when natural consequences occur. Not only to see the reality pass over their countenance-and realize your own sympathy and feel compassion-but to teach your children that you are there. And you don't hate them. Yes you can be disappointed and feel angry and frustrated but remember----this stopped being about you a long, long time ago.

Natural consequences should never be taken personally.