As a parent, we are constantly being given messages about what we should or shouldn’t do with our children. It can certainly become overwhelming. My approach when working with parents is to share information that I have based on my training and experience, but also to empower parents to reflect on their own experiences and knowledge of their children in order to figure out how the information fits for them. In today’s post, I am sharing some parenting quotes, but I have also added a twist of including at least one reflection question to consider with the quotes. Some of the parenting quotes I’ve shared may really connect with you and some may not. That is ok. This post is more about the reflection questions than the actual quotes.
Quote #1:
“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” Charles R. Swindoll
Reflection Questions:
How does this message fit (or not) with your experiences as a child?
What types of deposits do you strive to make in your children’s “memory banks”?
What helps you be successful in making the types of deposits you wish to make? What gets in the way?
Quote #2:
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglass
Reflection Questions:
What does building “strong children” mean to you?
How do you help your children become strong?
What contributes to someone being “broken”?
How does one “repair” oneself?
Are your children building the skills to recover from being “broken”?
Links for further exploration:
Effective Coping Skills for Children & Teens
Stressors & Children: The Full Series
Quote #3:
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” Jane D. Hull
Reflection Questions:
How do you define and measure success?
What factors do you believe contribute to success?What does “positive involvement” mean to you? How do you already consider yourself positively involved with your children? How would you like to grow in this area?
Links for further exploration:
5 Low-Key, Fun & Free Ways to Connect With Your Family This Summer
8 Ways to Show your Children You Love Them Throughout the Year
Quote #4:
“Parents learn a lot from their children about coping with life.” Muriel Spark
Reflection Question:
What lessons have you learned from your children?
How have your children taught you about coping with life?
Quote #5:
“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Reflection Questions:
How are you giving your children roots?
How are you giving your children wings?
Do you have a favorite parenting quote? Please feel free to share it in the comments below.
Sarah
My favourite quote “Pick your battles” & “catch your child being good”
Those are great quotes and always great reminders. Both of these are topics that often come up in my workshops and/or therapy with parents/families. Thanks for sharing, Elaine.
I loved reading the quotes. I don’t know the exact words, but I love the advice about “If I had to Do It Over Again, I would Spend…” and it talks about spending more time, playing more games, getting dirty, etc. My son is grown and on his own now. When I think back, there are a ton of things I wish I would have done differently. However, I give myself credit for the things I did well. He’s a good kid and I’ll always be proud!
Thanks for commenting, Julie. You are right that it is easy to get caught up in the day to day and then later regret what we should have done. I am happy to hear that you are able to direct your focus to the things you did well rather than just focusing on what you wish you had done.