What do you want to teach your child?

jshf

I am really struggling to figure out how to raise DS.  When he was a newborn, I just worried about his sleep, nursing and just giving lots of cuddles.  Now that he is a toddler and is so busy and active, I'm not sure if I'm doing the best job at being a mom.  I had a pretty rotten childhood, so I'm trying not to repeat my parents' mistakes.  DH says I just need to love DS, but that is just an abstract idea.  Of course I love him, but what do I do with him on a daily basis?  What do I want to teach him?  I feel so much pressure and anxiety too because they say how crucial the first 2 years are and how much it effects their whole life!  I don't want DS to be screwed up because I didn't do something or did something.

So if you could identify the top 3 or 4 things that you think are the most important things you want your LO to learn or experience during the first few years of life, what would they be?  What would you do over again if you could?  Thanks for any advice!

 

mandyclaire579

1. After stumbling on Glenn Beck one day, I told Jackson "No matter what you do, I want you to love everyone". I show him how others care about each other and guide him through relationships with other kids.

2. I let him get dirty....it gets his hands moving and he experiences so many parts of nature. I like germs and I love watching his experiences outdoors.

3. Logic. I alllow messes, but we have to clean them up. I allow tantrums, but I talk to him through them. "This is why we do this or that".

4. Problem solving. This goes with #3, but I am big on modeling, but allowing him to do things for himself.

habsoilers

fredalina:

Empathy

Self-Confidence/Self-Respect/Self-Esteem (the real kind)

These, for sure.

EmmieB

fredalina:

Empathy

Self-Confidence/Self-Respect/Self-Esteem (the real kind)

i want her to respect herself, the world around her, and how she fits into it

this.

I also want to foster curiosity and creativity. I want him to be interested in things and to respect knowledge. 

If you're wanting some parenting blogs or books, I can compile a list of my favorites for you. My childhood wasn't stellar, either (whose was, really) and I feel like I'm working from scratch in a lot of instances. If not for the wise women I'm reading I might be completely lost. 

Your husband is right - at this age: love, patience, compassion, play. If you're receptive to the needs of your family, your children will absorb that quality and know that you are there. It seems vague, but it's not insignificant.

GL!

Kestrel84

fredalina:

Empathy

Self-Confidence/Self-Respect/Self-Esteem (the real kind)

i want her to respect herself, the world around her, and how she fits into it

What are some of the ways that you teach a young child these things.  It may become obvious, but I'm not really at that stage yet.  Do you have an examples you could share?

erinkate23

Compassion; I want him to have empathy for others, understand what they're going through, and actually care about it.

Courage: I don't want him to be ruled by fear.  I want him to have the courage to do the things he wants to do, and knows to be right.

Curiosity: I want him to question things and make his own decisions, constantly trying to learn about the world around him.

 

 If we pull off those 3 things, but he can't do long division, I will be a very happy lady.  If he doesn't speak French or spells poorly or even if he can't tell his right from his left (I still screw that up sometimes, lol - I have to think "treble or bass"), I think I will have been a 100% success as a parent. 

erinkate23

dupe, edited.

StrawberryAlarmClock

Empathy. Respect. Honor. DH and I put spiders outside, follow the golden rule and tell cashiers when they forget to ring something up. We have our vices but we hope we can raise LO to share these virtues.

jshf

EmmieB:

fredalina:

Empathy

Self-Confidence/Self-Respect/Self-Esteem (the real kind)

i want her to respect herself, the world around her, and how she fits into it

this.

I also want to foster curiosity and creativity. I want him to be interested in things and to respect knowledge. 

If you're wanting some parenting blogs or books, I can compile a list of my favorites for you. My childhood wasn't stellar, either (whose was, really) and I feel like I'm working from scratch in a lot of instances. If not for the wise women I'm reading I might be completely lost. 

Your husband is right - at this age: love, patience, compassion, play. If you're receptive to the needs of your family, your children will absorb that quality and know that you are there. It seems vague, but it's not insignificant.

GL!

 

I'd love some book recommendations or parenting blogs.  I need all the help I can get!

 

Thank you to everyone responding!  Your thoughts have been helpful and encouraging!