Give your children encouragement. Encouraging words are powerful emotional deposits of confidence and self-esteem. Verbally acknowledge your children’s special talents and accomplishments. Catch your children doing something great, and tell them what a great job they have done.

Share your experiences with your children. We each have valuable stories to tell, unique maps of our journey through life. These stories tell how our reactions to events created the life we are living now. Sharing the benefit of your experiences - the roadblocks and rewards - is a very loving way to guide your children.

Your children may face many of the situations you faced. Your experiences can help them make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Love and support your children unconditionally. Love is an unconditional gift from the heart; it is not a reward for good behavior. Let your children know that you will love and support them in any situation. This message creates a sturdy bond of trust. Your children will grow to feel safe in coming to you with any problem they face. Children need the freedom to make decisions, try new things, and learn that life requires personal responsibility and persistence. They need the freedom to fail and learn from mistakes without being judged. Unconditional

love helps them to acquire the decisiveness and resiliency required to

become successful.

If you could sum up all of our children’s needs, hopes, and expectations in one word, that word would be love. We share love when we play a role in our children’s world of learning and discovery. Our legacy of love will have an influence upon our children and grandchildren for many gener-

ations. — achieveezine.com (concluded)