I mentioned last week that my dad is very generous, giving us money and nice gifts often. And that I'm a daddy's girl. I've been a daddy's girl since I was a toddler, shoving my mom out of my way so I could sit by my daddy on the couch. And over the years, my love has grown for my dad but so has my respect. I try to emulate my dad as much as possible when I parent my own children. I try to have just as much patience as he did. I try to discipline just as he did. I try to lead by example in how to be a good person, just like he is.
Somehow my dad (and mom) raised three great kids who became successful adults (if I do say so myself). We're so squeaky clean none of us so much as had detention as teens. If my parents hadn't divorced when I was a junior in high school, we might have been the Cleavers.
Anyway, growing up even though I didn't have all the latest gadgets (didn't have a computer until I left for college!) or the trendiest clothes I still felt spoiled and loved and complete. I want to somehow give my children that same childhood.
And it's hard.
I want to buy them new toys and clothes and take them on fun trips and to fun experiences. I also don't want them to expect all those things to happen all the time. I want it to be just as special to take a family walk, have a family game night or watch a family movie together.
My kids are still little (4 and 2) so I have time yet (at least a little) to figure out how to balance all of that. And to learn as I go. Parenting is one big learning experiment anyway.
How do you balance all of it? Any tips or tricks to pass along?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
You could start to take your family on family bike trips around the neighborhood. I used to love to do that with my parents.
You could also take them to the park for a picnic, or to the library for books. Put the sprinkler out in the yard in the summer and let them take turns jumping through. These are all things I loved, and things that didn't cost my parents a dime.
Post a Comment