As a parent we can be frustrated by the child who never wants to try anything new or is determined that they will not like it, whether it is a vegetable or an activity. Usually what has happened is they have a voice in their head telling them that they are going to fail, or they won’t be good at something, or someone is going to laugh at them. The first thing we must do as a parent is ask ourselves if this is the example that we are setting for our children? Do they see us reject things without trying or talking to ourselves or out loud in a way that is putting ourselves down. If we put ourselves down, or put others down as not being able to do something, our children will pick up on that and apply that to themselves.
Being kind to ourselves, no matter what our age is, encouraging ourselves to step out of our comfort zone, and allow our mistakes to be seen by our children, Continue reading “Life Skills: Optimism – Can be Gained with Practice and Kindness to Ourselves”
