What does home mean to you?

By CANDACE ROBERTS

Cover of Children Learn What They Live

Home is a place we all should feel safe at. There should always be peace inside the home. Children should feel loved and be excited about coming home. It is not that way for so many families. Many children get mistreated and grow up and mistreat their children without knowing any better. Children learn what they live.

Couples should make time for each other and make each other comfortable, especially at home. I would like to share one of my favorite poems here.

Children Learn What They Live (1998)

By Dorothy Law Nolte (1924-2005)

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Related articles

• Teaching Compassion to Kids (psychologytoday.com)
• Children Learn What They Live (marvaseatonpoetry.wordpress.com)

Living Your Own Life!

It seems like there is always someone who means well, but comes across as trying to run our lives. It is one thing to give out advice and another to tell someone what you think they should do and how they should do it. Often times it is family who tries to control our every move. We have to just step back and realize that we are adults and capable of making our own decisions. You don’t always have to consult with someone before making a decision. What others tell you might be best for them, but may not work out well with you. If we always do what others want us to do, we can never truly be happy because we are not living our own lives. Some people need to feel like they have to control others. There will be times when we have to discard people from our lives or simply distance ourselves from some people if only for a little while. Whatever decision you make, if it is a mistake, let it be your mistake and not a mistake you made listening to someone else. Sometimes its best to not argue with people and just know that you can do whatever you want. No sense in arguing and getting yourself upset. At the end of the day they will still be trying to tell you how to live your life and you have to know that you don’t always have to take the advice of others. It’s rather funny when an adult tells another adult what they are not allowed to do. Sure we have to respect our parents and elders. Yet, again sometimes we have to distance ourselves if they don’t understand that you are an adult. No matter how many times you tell someone how you want to do something, sometimes they never stop to listen because they are so anxious to tell you how they think it should be. The best thing to do is not consult with them when making a decision and when they feel the need to tell you what to do, just hear them out or tell them you don’t agree! However you choose to handle it, just make sure you are living your life for you and no one else!