I have written about what is important to parents many times and I know that for some readers, it is not enough to read me saying that for hundreds of parents going through the parenting workshops, happiness and all forms of happiness are more important than what they spend most of their energy on (academic success).
Do not get me wrong. I do not know any parents who care about their kids that would say, “I want my kids to be failures at school”. We all want our kids to be academically successful. After all, whether we like it or not, we think their level of success says something about us…
Unfortunately, many parents think academic success is the entry ticket to “real life”, but although I believe it is very important, I think it cannot stand by itself and we need a balance between academic success and happiness.
Luckily, they are not in a conflict at all and can go hand in hand. After over 25 years of working with gifted children and kids with learning difficulties (which is not contradiction, because kids with learning difficulties can be gifted and talented), I can tell you that academically smart kids can be very happy. Better yet, happy kids do a lot better academically.
In parenting workshops, I tell people to imagine their kids were princes and princesses and that I am a fairy with a magic wand who comes to bless their kids with all the goodness of life. I love to play fairy, because I believe in magic.
So here I am, playing fairy with you too and I am giving you a wish, one wish that you can give your kids. Please remember, it is only one wish. When you die, your kids will say, “This is my dad’s or my mom’s blessing for me”. To help you choose, I wrote a story called “The 10 Mothers” and I do apologize to all fathers, it is as true to fathers than to mothers.
If you could choose only one thing to give your kids, what would that be?
Many parents say it is hard to choose only just one this, because they are all important and some of them lead to others. I agree!
In the comment box below, please share your reasons for your choice and if there is anything else you would like to give your kids that is not on this list.
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Wishing all fairies happy parenting,
Ronit
