"All young children naturally love God.
As they grow they are trained by others
and turn instead to piety and religion.
All young children are naturally
at ease with their bodies.
As they grow, they are shamed by others
and become self-conscious and filled with tension.
All young children naturally relate
to other people well.
As they grow they see conflict
and become fearful and guarded.
All virtues arise naturally
until fear and training interfere.
Then virtues disappear
and rules take their place.
Look for the natural virtues of your children.
You may have to pay careful attention.
We are trained not to notice them,
or to distrust them.
But they are the real thing.
They don't have to be taught,
only nurtured.
What natural virtues can you notice in your child today?"
As I watch my daughter grow from day to day, I see how all of who she is is already here. I'm starting to understand that the purpose of disciplining her is to teach her how to set, and respect, boundaries, so that she can protect herself, respect herself, honor herself, and care for those around her at the same time. It's taken me all of who I am to learn how to do these things for myself and others, and of course I am still learning. I hope to show my daughter that I approve her, so she will be inspired to improve herself: Not according to what I think of her, but to what she discovers in and about herself.
As they grow they are trained by others
and turn instead to piety and religion.
All young children are naturally
at ease with their bodies.
As they grow, they are shamed by others
and become self-conscious and filled with tension.
All young children naturally relate
to other people well.
As they grow they see conflict
and become fearful and guarded.
All virtues arise naturally
until fear and training interfere.
Then virtues disappear
and rules take their place.
Look for the natural virtues of your children.
You may have to pay careful attention.
We are trained not to notice them,
or to distrust them.
But they are the real thing.
They don't have to be taught,
only nurtured.
What natural virtues can you notice in your child today?"
As I watch my daughter grow from day to day, I see how all of who she is is already here. I'm starting to understand that the purpose of disciplining her is to teach her how to set, and respect, boundaries, so that she can protect herself, respect herself, honor herself, and care for those around her at the same time. It's taken me all of who I am to learn how to do these things for myself and others, and of course I am still learning. I hope to show my daughter that I approve her, so she will be inspired to improve herself: Not according to what I think of her, but to what she discovers in and about herself.
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