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High Hopes
It's Never Too Late for Those New Year's Resolutions
Now, at the beginning of every year, when I ask my children if they've gotten their resolutions together, I usually get what I gave: "Not yet." But I know I'm passing something onto them. I'm giving them a tradition, something that will be part of their composition for the rest of their lives.
By Sylvia Cherry, an iParenting.com community member
I had been reading a lot of parenting articles about listening to your children. Truthfully, I wanted to be "TV Mom," one who always imparted enlightened advice, smooth as butter. The TV Mom persona wasn't fitting very well so I was game for a new practice. I thought I'd try this listening thing.
In my new listening mode, I arrived early for my volunteer session at my daughter's preschool, just in time to overhear circle time discussion. I was wrestling overtime with my tongue after my daughter answered her teacher's question with, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a big sister." Having grander expectations, I wished she'd said a teacher, a doctor, an artist or a dancer like the preceding kids in the circle or even a snowplow driver like many of the boys. I was embarrassed that my daughter failed to understand the question or lacked any grander view. My consolation was she hadn't said she'd grow up to be a teddy bear as one girl had. I determined I still had time to work on appropriate aspirations. I'd start right after school.
