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ZERO W RRY
PA R E N T IN G
Own er's M a nu al T
Z e r o W or r y Ki d s
Law of Attraction
Activation Tools
Foreword by
Bob Doyle, from The Secret
This information is copyrighted by Parenting for Happy Kids. The e-book may not be
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without permission in writing from the publisher.
Index...................................................................................................2
Introduction........................................................................................5
2
FOREWORD
By Bob Doyle
Today, as a result of films like “The Secret” and other amazing and
groundbreaking work being shared in the conversation of the Law of
Attraction, hundreds of thousands of adults are taking on learning these
principles.
How much different would you life be today had you ALWAYS been fully
supported in the exploration of your true passions? What if we truly had
always followed our bliss, and been supported not only by our parents, but by
our communities as well? By the World?
Clearly, this is not the reality in our world today. As adults, we have taken on a
lot of resistance to living our lives the way we truly want, and now we’re
working through all that.
Now, however, we have the choice to teach the younger generations what we
are now learning for ourselves. That we truly do live in a Universe of Infinite
Possibility, and that when we allow ourselves to create visions that inspire us,
and follow our intuition, that we will REALIZE those visions provided we don’t
let ourselves be stopped by limiting beliefs.
It’s a big job, no question. Particularly because many of us are going through
the process ourselves, and by no means consider ourselves experts. But
that’s ok! We’re starting a process that may take many generations to
complete…but I feel it to be a very worthy cause. It’s why I do what I do with
my life.
3
FOREWORD
This book makes this job a lot easier by simply sharing key principles you can
share with your kids, whatever the age. In the process, you’ll be affirming
these truths to yourself as well, and fine-tuning your own ability to create your
life by design!
I truly feel that empowering children with these principles is the best gift you
can give them along with the guidance you will provide along the way, both in
what you say, and what you do.
Bob Doyle
www.wealthbeyondreason.com
4
INTRODUCTION
And while perfection can be an intimidating word, we mean that in the sense
that is perfect for YOU and YOUR children.
On your journey, you'll pass through the different phases of childhood and
teenage years, discovering your unseen parenting abilities with help of the
Law of Attraction.
Simply put, the Law of Attraction means that whatever you put your attention
to, expands and is attracted to you.
However, we've seen that when applied to parenting, many people need
something extra to get it all working right for you.
This is what we offer to you, for FREE, in this Zero Worry Parenting Guide.
Looking at these simple examples, you'll find it easy to discover your own
precious gifts as a parent.
Gifts you can easily use to help your kids feel good any time they need to, so
they'll attract more and more positive things in their lives.
5
INTRODUCTION
How to get connected with your kids and teens - and stay
that way through life
How to give your kids what they want and need the most...
without shortchanging yourself
And many, MANY more delightful new strategies for an easier, flow-like
parenting experience.
We wish you a Happy, Fun Journey, as you become one of the the very first
people EVER...
PS: To get the maximum benefits of the Law of Attraction in parenting, with
maximum speed, go to www.zeroworryparenting.com. Sign up for the six-
month Zero Worry Parenting experience and investing just an hour or two per
week, you can experience for yourself... the joy of having the Law of
Attraction do the heavy lifting for you. Parenting CAN be easy, fun, and lead
to a life-long wonderful relationship with your kids. We'll be looking forward to
helping you with any specific questions you may have. See you on the Inside
Track!
6
1.
What All Parents Should Know About
The Law of Attraction
7
Welcome to Parenting According to the Law of
Attraction!
You will be amazed at how different the everyday things in life,
and in family, can be when combined with the easy going, easy
living, easily understood principles of the Law of Attraction.
We know that for a fact... because we were once where you are now!
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Welcome our new friend. Now let's begin!
I think you'll agree that parenting is the most precious task we could
ever have in our lives.
You have new life in your family. That life will undoubtedly pass on your
traditions and knowledge, and at the same time, represent something
completely new.
Parenting can be very demanding, but what matters the most, from the
perspective of the Law of Attraction, is what kind of attitude we take to
parenting.
In other words: how we allow ourselves to be reborn in the birth of our kids.
That sounds a little heavy, but really it's as natural as can be...
"Of course if you like your kids, if you love them from the moment they
begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them and with them."
- William Saroyan -
This wonderful quote from William Saroyan tells us what being a parent is all
about.
It is handling new beginnings again and again; in a way, like a new birth for
you. Once you are gifted with your first child, you need to be reborn, or find
yourself in a new way. When you get more children, it happens again and
again, and you’ll need to restore balance in your life again.
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With the help of the
Law of Attraction,
we can find an
equilibrium between
our responsibilities,
power and potential.
This will help us find the pleasure and enjoyment in family life and in being
with kids, because ultimately, they are a source of such huge joy.
Also, the Law of Attraction will come in handy in our effort to use our
enormous power and authority correctly, when it comes to our kids.
We can train ourselves to recognize whole new nuances to, and tones of, our
power, which matters more than we may have previously understood. For
instance, the use of the word “no” can be understood in totally new ways in
light of the Law of Attraction.
Parenting carries with it huge potential. We can nurture both the hidden
potential of our kids and the potential in the relationship between us
and our kids while learning the subtlety and finesse of the Law of
Attraction.
We can learn to play our cards well by understanding the mindset of Zero
Worry Parenting, even if sometimes we may think we didn't get a good hand
to play with. Zero Worry Parenting is like a breath of fresh air, a sense of relief
for labored parents who are overstretched in all directions.
And that's not marketing-speak, mind you. That's a fact we can back up, as
you'll come to see!
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Your Kids Have An Inborn Ability To Live The Law Of
Attraction
“Innocence is always unsuspicious.”
- Thomas C. Haliburton -
Their parents fall in love with them and want to touch them all the time.
Babies also want to be touched. By saying babies are untouched, we mean
that their souls are untouched, as they are still in perfect harmony with
themselves and with Nature itself.
It is very important to let our kids grow up in a way that allows them to
maintain their lively connection to the Law of Attraction.
Along with nurturing and loving our babies and kids, one of the most
important tasks a parent has is to cherish their kids' ability to live in harmony
with the Law of Attraction.
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“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome
for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.”
- from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery -
What on earth (or asteroid, in this case) does it mean to have an innate ability
to live in harmony with the Law of Attraction? It means that kids can naturally
focus on things that they want more of.
They want love and affection, they want undivided attention, they want our
time, they want and they want, and they want... You've seen this, haven't
you?
Through this constant wanting, they are simply craving the best “building
materials” for their physical and mental growth, the best supply for their self-
esteem, the best support to maintain the connection they inherently have.
Wanting is so natural and simple for them that we can feel a (more or less)
quiet revolution happening in our lives after having a baby. Babies tend to
turn us back onto the happy trail, the existence of which we have either
forgotten, or somehow lost, along the way.
Yes, it can be a challenge to remember this is actually happening. But it's the
first step to enjoying an easier life together, with less resistance and more
happiness than you'd ever imagine!
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If we can track down the Law of Attraction, we can make our family life easier
by focusing on the right things, such as how we treat each other. If we treat
each other in a loving way, we will get more love – we can feel deeper
feelings of love and we will be loved more deeply by others.
If you suspect, or in fact know, that your kids have for some reason lost
their connection to the Law of Attraction during their growing years,
there are simple things you can do to help them get back to harmony.
Here you have a short and simple list of what you can do for your kids, in
order to restore the connection with the Law of Attraction, regardless of their
age:
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1. Be on your kidʼs level
If you want to get your kid reconnected with the Law of Attraction, it is
always a great help to be on your kid's level.
You, as a grown-up, can stretch in the direction of your kid’s maturity level,
but they cannot reach up to your mental and physical level, as they lack many
skills and a certain maturity. You must squat mentally and start to observe
how your kid's mind operates. You will find that there is a certain universal
logic typical for each age.
An old friend from another country spent Christmas with us recently. Amazing to us,
she understood everything the kids were saying at the dinner table, or while
receiving and opening their Christmas presents, or while playing their games, and
so on. She didn't share a common language with the five kids, all of different ages,
yet she understood all of them.
She comes from a different continent, speaks a different language, and nobody
could have translated for her everything the five kids were chatting about. But she
had a solid connection with the kids, and had lively chats with them using the
universal language, which you could call 'understanding.ʼ
At first, we thought she must be a mind reader, but she explained that her nieces
and nephews back home used to behave in the same exact ways when they were
the same ages, as if their minds followed the same exact logic. So it was easy for
her to simply see what was going on a non-verbal level , even without knowing
exactly what they were saying.
As you can see, when you start understanding the inner workings of how kids
think, it makes the connection between parents and kids that much stronger.
It is different at each age, but still easy to see when you learn to attune
yourself to it.
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2. Be present for your kid
Children are surprisingly sensitive about this, keeping their “sensors” open to
feel whether you are really present for them or not. If you are not present to
them, they kind of take the initiative and forcibly (if involuntarily) take what
they feel they need.
So they keep interrupting you a thousand times, especially when you are
trying to concentrate on very important work, or take a phone call from a top
client, or do another, supposedly exceptionally critical task.
Kids sense that there is something going on around them, in which they need
or want to be involved, even if you have certain rules in your house and they
usually follow those rules.
In other words, they sense you're not 100 percent present for them, and they
yank you right back.
A mother of two planned to get back to working life after a two-year stay-at-home
stint.
In her job application, she wrote how her time at home had enhanced her
organizational skills. She was never late, which was very good for a mother of two
small ones.
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When the kids were finally all clothed, the younger one needed to go to the potty.
While the youngest one sat on her potty, the mom ran around checking her cell
phone and rounding up other essentials to take with her.
For a split second, when the mom was not keeping an eye on the little one, the child
decided to lock herself inside the bathroom. The mother needed to call a locksmith
to open the door. She was sure the delay would cost her the interview.
Time ran out, and the flustered mother, red in the face, was so annoyed that she
canceled the interview and simply told them she couldnʼt take the job.
Kids will notice how the Law of Attraction works for both of you, and
they’ll want more of it, because it feels good!
It is much better to keep the initiative on your side. First, give your kids what
they need, to trigger the Law of Attraction in your favor. This will defuse the
difficult situation, and you will open the pathways for getting what you want,
also.
Following this sequence also prevents problems that kids might cause if a
sense of conflict remains.
Let's see what a reframed case of this morning story would look like:
The mom decided to wake up earlier and make all the preparations she needed to
make before waking her kids up.
The previous day, she had bought a hand puppet (a bunny rabbit), anticipating that
she would need to create a positive distraction to get the kids to do as she wanted
on the important morning.
And indeed, the bunny rabbit got the kids laughing while they were putting on
clothes. Everything went smoothly and everyone had a good time.
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She dropped the girls off at the nannyʼs place and had ample time to get to her job
interview. The interview went so well that she was hired on the spot.
Kids get confused easily if they don't understand the words you use,
especially if they are in a new situation with new people. So it is worth using
simple and kind words with them.
If you don't see yourself speaking to your kids in a simple way, refer to this
universal story, which virtually anyone can relate to:
If a kid doesnʼt hear simple words from a doctor, and all they understand is pain,
they will be immediately afraid, and avoid seeing doctors even when they are
grownups. Not to mention dentists!
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But if they feel comfortable and confident, and know that a procedure will only hurt
for a moment, theyʼll love to go back to that nice doctor who gave them a few kind
words and a big, encouraging smile. They might even want to become a nice doctor
themselves when they grow up!
We could even broaden this idea of speaking simply to include being simple
with your kids. Simplicity happens when you are consistent with kids.
It gives them certainty, which is one of the basic elements for positive growth.
Also, certainty makes them feel good. And who wouldn't like to feel good and
attract more nice things by feeling good?
We'll delve more deeply into the connection between emotions and the Law
of Attraction in the chapter Emotion Increases The Speed of Manifesting A
Happy Family.
Use stories about real life, from your own childhood or from their early
childhood, to reawaken their connection with you and with the fine laws of life.
Stories make kids feel very special, and it always feels good to be special.
And feeling good always awakens the Law of Attraction to work for you and
your kids.
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A mom, 41 years old, tells us that her kids love to hear stories, again and again,
from when they were in her belly. It's always as interesting for them to hear these
stories as it was when the stories were completely new. They love to hear about
how they used to kick; one more wildly, the other more moderately.
The stories always go on to tell of the babiesʼ hiccups – and the little audience
becomes so elated that they get hiccups again. They all roll laughing, and
sometimes daddy comes from another room to see what's going on. He always
joins in the laughter.
Secrets work as well, because kids of all ages love them. When they get
to know a secret, they feel good because they are obviously being
trusted!
The same happens with secrets as with stories: that good feeling awakens
the Law of Attraction to work on your kids.
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Laughter should be used as a secret weapon much more often. The positive
feeling that it creates can be the basis for everything productive. When your
kid feels good, he feels confident, capable and competent. And that makes
him feel connected.
It is even better if you can use only positive words. That obviously takes some
more practice, but you can become a master of positive words by steadfastly
practicing their usage, and by being aware of their influence on your kid's
emotions.
Positive words are in very close connection with positive emotions. It is that
simple. Kind words work much better in any situation than negative words. It
is like pushing a button that makes favorable things happen. And that
inevitably makes your life easier.
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What your kids can do by themselves to get back on
track
You may be relieved to know there are also things our kids can do for
themselves to get back on track with the Law of Attraction. It's not ALL
up to you, after all!
This is especially good for older kids and teens if they have lost the
connection to the Law of Attraction already. Another reason it’s good? They
are a bit older now, and they prefer to do more things independently from
their parents.
In the same way, you can teach your older kids to focus on what they want,
instead of complaining about something in their lives, or not wanting
something to happen.
This does not necessarily mean that you need to buy your kids or teens new
clothes or games every day, becoming a vehicle to fulfill all their wishes. It
means you can teach them to prioritize and figure out what they really want.
Whatever your kids really want, they will get it.
By now, you may have already gotten a clue about what Zero Worry
Parenting is really about... hang on, it'll all become clear soon!
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2.
How The Law Of Attraction
Works For Parenting
22
Like Attracts Like - Even With Kids
As a parent, you may often come across difficult situations and need to
get your kids to cooperate. And if you happen to have kids of the
“negative age” or teenagers, it's even less likely that they'll cooperate
the way you'd like them to.
At any given moment, being in a hurry increases the tension within you – you
just want things to happen the way you’d like. And before long, you might
become afraid that everything won't go as planned. So your focus will actually
be on fear, and as the Law of Attraction would have it, you'll soon experience
that very thing you're afraid of!
The tension of being in a hurry tends to cause the opposite of what you want
to happen!
Let's not go any further in that direction. It’s time to call upon the Law of
Attraction to work in favor of you and your kids. It's actually very easy; it's
enough to simply remember that like attracts like.
If you are feeling nervous, the situation with the kids is also likely to be tense.
So the first thing to do is loosen up your nerves. Take a deep breath, let it all
out and just relax for a moment.
In case you feel so tense and rushed that you cannot even imagine doing
that, let's take a look at someone who constantly makes this difficult choice
seem easy.
The Singing Dentist works at a special dental clinic where the patients are kids
suffering from autism. As you may know, kids with autism are quite unpredictable,
especially when they feel fear.
Going to the dentist might be frightening enough, even without autism, as the
reception room smells weird, there are very bright lamps and frightening equipment
all around…anyone can feel very exposed and vulnerable.
Frightened kids who suffer from autism may very easily resort to biting – the
dentist's hand, equipment… anything. So you may wonder whether it is even
possible to take care of their teeth without some serious relaxation medication.
Our dentist friend found at least one specific way to help autistic kids to relax in a
natural way: to be on the same level as them and to soothe them on that level. She
sings to them! As it happens, singing causes them to trust her and to be relaxed
before and during the procedure, which makes it possible to actually get the job
done.
Again, small, but smart, action like this provides incredible results!
What we can all learn from the endearing story of the singing dentist is that
by focusing on producing a relaxation response, instead of fear or other
negative emotions, we can make the impossible possible!
Easy, right?!
In your quest for Zero Worry Parenting, it is essential that you learn to
recognize the “buttons” to avoid pushing in your kid's mind – the ones that
tend to make things spiral out of control. Just as important though, is to learn
how to push the positive buttons – the ones that make things go that much
easier every time.
Another example: If your kids don't like to get up early in the morning – and
yet they have to – you can dodge a lot of bullets by guiding their attention
onto something that gives them a good feeling right away.
Put on some music you know they'll like, for instance, and prepare their
favorite breakfast once in a while. Even if it doesn't happen every morning,
this experience will help them get up on the right foot and they'll know you're
on their side.
This gets a good feeling going with them right away, so you and your kids
together will attract more and more nice things that day! It all goes well from
there...
When they’re grown, your kids will understand how special their parents
were, making their everyday life not only tolerable, but nice and smooth. They
will respect you more, because you have respected them by consciously
choosing to push their “positive buttons.”
And who knows, they may well remember this when they have their own kids
and do the same favor for your grandkids, as well. So there is no doubt about
it – not only do children make your life feel important, but you, too, make a big
impact in their lives!
Now that you've learned an easy way to create a positive vibe in your family,
let's take this up a notch and tackle something very common and seemingly
difficult to resolve...
The idea of “like attracts like” has probably become very familiar to you
by now, through the examples in this book. Negativity attracts
negativity and positivity attracts positivity. It really is that simple.
The word “NO” is quite necessary, and at times very useful, but it is still
always negative.
Now that we’ve become aware of its negative quality, we can start observing
how much we use it during the day with our children, and what effect it may
have on them.
If we're to be honest, most parents end up using the word “no” surprisingly
often.
In Zero Worry Parenting, we recommend that people tone down the use of
these negatively charged words, as we want you to reawaken the endless
positive forces of the Law of Attraction.
When it comes to the Law of Attraction, we all know the power of saying, “You
can be, do and have anything you want.” What is surprising though, is that
this is the very basis from which your kids quite naturally and innocently think
and act!
Knowing this simple fact can sometimes completely redefine how we view our
kids’ motives when they’ve done something, that at first blush, seems
strange, immature or stubborn.
Especially when under stress, we, sometimes blunt, adults prevent our kids
from thinking and acting in the ways that are most natural to them. We
inadvertently use negative words too much; “NOs” and “DON'Ts” galore.
They will be taken aback, as they haven’t gotten the usual, negative response
they thought they were going to hear.
This doesn't mean you give them false hope, either. You are simply agreeing
with their needs first, staying positive, and giving them something to think
about.
In the moment, it doesn't matter as much whether what they want will actually
happen later or not, but it feels good to know that it will happen. This positive,
trusting feeling reinforces their connection with the Law of Attraction, which
will then activate and start working in their favor!
If you use the chance to give to your kids what they need, they will get more,
and you will get more, as well. All of you feel good, and good feelings attract
more positive things, which also feel good.
The exact timing for when your kid can do or have something is not so
essential, but the good feeling that they get right away from your positive
words is!
When you stay with a good feeling, it will grow, and you'll start to experience
more of that feeling.
This is why Zero Worry Parenting recommends to at least observe the usage
of negative words and gradually learn to avoid using them altogether.
Now, let's move on to even more dangerous territory – turning around dicey
situations...
“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”
- Mark Twain -
It's time to feel good already – because the situations that used to
awaken your kids' negative feelings are now about to be transformed
into joyous events!
First, think about those difficult situations that tend to repeat over and over,
even when you think you're doing your absolute best with the kids – those
situations where typically, everything somehow just goes exactly opposite of
what your intention was.
When you're all done, you will probably come to see that in many of those
difficult situations you somehow pushed your kids' “negative buttons.” This
caused their negative feelings to flare up in a flash, making the situations
even worse. If the situations repeat on a daily basis, it's even more difficult to
see it clearly and deal with it.
But fear not, it is very easy. Just put a little distance to it. That distance will
help you recognize what went wrong in those difficult situations and you'll be
able to see other options to dealing with them, leading to better outcomes.
On one hand, parents don't see their kids as they really are because they are
so close to their kids most of the time. On the other hand, nobody knows kids
better than their parents. Parenthood is an eternal paradox, but you can still
decide to solves its problems.
This way, you will give your kids, as well as yourself, a chance to do things in
a new way. No matter how entrenched a situation may feel, there is always a
possibility of doing things in a different way.
Step by step, you will get a better feeling for those situations. After a while, it
will be possible, and even easy, to decide to act in a new way and get a
positive outcome. You will find that joy will eventually be there, as you work
on changing your outlook on these situations!
The following quote from Kahlil Gibran is a good reminder about the fact that
kids are only visiting us. Therefore, we should take better care of our dear
visitors emotionally, especially in stressful moments:
Many parents feel like they are at a dead end, extremely irritated after asking
their kids to come to the dinner table dozens of times, or asking them to do
their homework hundreds of times. So often, parents would rather ban
gaming and online activity completely.
Despite the obvious problems, there are good things associated with
computer games. These games can bring accolades and friends to kids who
are shy or non-athletic, or to kids who may not otherwise be able to gain
many friends.
A seven year old schoolboy's family solved the rising problem of playing computer
games too much in a way everybody was happy with. The limits were already set
and the boy was happy with them, but his parents still felt that their sensitive boy
was playing too much. The boy somehow felt that there was something wrong with
him, as his playing caused so much stress in his family.
One night, the boy was thinking of his gaming and other things while lying in his bed
before sleep, as he was very philosophical and ponderous by nature.
His father sat there with him and listened to the boy talk about the games he
played. The boy showed such enthusiasm and interest that the father figured, can it
be so bad? So he decided to mirror the boy's feelings and become just as
enthusiastic about it, asking questions about the games and complimenting the
boyʼs game-playing skills.
The result was nothing short of miraculous. The father showed in very simple, but
no uncertain terms, that he was on his son's side. The boy felt an immense sense
of relief, newfound confidence, and an ability to fall asleep without any worries. He
wasn't the bad guy after all, and he even had a newfound ally in his interests.
But the most amazing thing was the reciprocity that followed. The next day, the boy
set his own limits and kept to them, knowing his gaming was now accepted, and no
longer a source of constant disagreement.
"I get the best feeling in the world when you say
hi or even smile at me because I know, even if
its just for a second, that I've crossed your
mind."
- Unknown -
35
Emotion Increases The Speed of Manifesting A Happy
Family
There are only two emotions from our perspective ....... The one that feels
good, that feeling of hope or happiness or love. That good feeling, that
positive emotion, is guidance saying, that which you are thinking right now
is in alignment with what you are wanting.
- Esther Hicks – Abraham -
Now, let's get into some practical ways to foster those positive emotions...
You may know people who are like “kid magnets” wherever they go. They
have the ability to simply be on the level of the kids, in a heartbeat. Actually,
they really ARE there, as they have the ability to be childlike. These kinds of
people easily get kids to do anything at all.
Think about this little story, and what you can take away from it:
He would tell them wild stories from his home village (he was originally from an
African country) – always relevant to what he needed them to do. He would get
them out the door in two minutes flat by saying he was going to fly a kite. He would
race them, challenge them...anything to get them engaged on a fun, positive level.
He even got them to come in on time in the morning, because they all couldn't wait
to be with him.
The kids simply latched onto the positive expectation he managed to set, time and
again. No convincing, coercion or forcing necessary. Talk about effortless!
This is because kids are very sensitive and keep their 'sensors' naturally
open. They easily feel their parents' or teachers' expectations, even from the
faintest hints.
Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric and one of the all-time greatest
heroes of business, had a mother who was uncompromising in setting expectations
for her son. It wasn't uncompromising in the sense that she would be hard on him,
just that she instilled in him an absolutely invincible sense of achievement – an
unshakeable belief in being able to achieve and overcome ANYTHING.
She would not give in to any challenges and refused to believe her son couldn't
achieve something. So Jack Welch grew up with that expectation, which turned into
a belief that made him a giant in his line of business.
Think about it: Simple, positive expectation and an early sense of success
and achievement gave birth to one of the most successful CEOs in history!
But there's even more... What happens when positive expectations turn into
emotion?
If you decide to treat your spouse well through the thick and thin of it, you will
enjoy a pleasant twilight when in advanced age.
Little by little, you will see evidence of it. As you start seeing it, you can be
sure you're on the right path, and that you're thinking about it the right way.
Undoubtedly, it will 'rub off on' your kids as well.
The sooner you make the decision to favor positively charged thoughts
(thoughts that feel good to you), the sooner you will see the tone of your
whole family change in magnificent ways.
This final point gets more and more important as your children keep
growing up into adults. You may think that the word 'success' implies
success in the world – first in school, then in college, and finally, in the
working world.
But success is important on the smallest of levels, as well. For kids, success
simply means experiencing 'getting it right' and receiving undeniable
validation for it.
The important thing for us as parents to realize is that kids measure their
success against our reactions to their actions. In other words, when they ask
for you to watch what they do for the four hundredth time – be it building a
puzzle, drawing something, riding a bike, or completing their homework –
they do it to validate what they did. You are their yardstick of success!
You have the easy part of being the one who makes them feel good about
themselves and who helps them to achieve success in everything they do.
Because material goods, as useful as they are, will always erode in time. But
learning to experience success will yield endless rewards, replicated in bigger
and bigger ways in your children's various life situations. So, using whatever
level of success you think you have achieved in life, you can always help your
kids learn and perpetuate a mode of successful living.
Mrs. Kirsti Paakkanen, who ran the famous Marimekko fashion house well into her
eighties, grew up as an underprivileged child, basically in a shack in a remote
village. Even so, her mother made sure she felt something beyond those conditions
every day. No matter what was going on in their lives, Kirstiʼs mother would tell her
daughter that she is not only a capable, worthy person, but a miracle.
The malnourished little girl got to hear every day that she was a MIRACLE. She
grew up to create many miracles in the business arena, and went on to be lauded
around the globe for her personal attitude toward life and work.
42
Time, Time, Time!
"What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork."
- Pearl Bailey -
After school, our kids rush off to their hobbies, where they might spend their
afternoons and evenings, and come back home just in time for bedtime,
squeezing in homework somewhere between brushing their teeth and
checking text messages for the last time before closing their eyes.
Kids start to suffer, not only from being in a perpetual hurry, but also from
rushing through their lives.
They also often suffer from a rushed life – in other words, a life that is rushed
ahead of their current levels of maturity. There is this continuous, perceived
need to learn, to develop, to reach maturity, to become an adult. And to do all
this before their peers.
A ten year old boy wanted to start playing soccer and went to a local soccer club as
the season started. He was told that he was too old to start playing soccer, as all
the team members had started when they were five to seven years old.
The parents of the boy were shocked. How on earth could it be impossible for a ten
year old boy to play on a soccer team? When exactly was the right time to
experiment with all kinds of sports, if not in childhood?!
To grow up well-adjusted, kids just need something very simple: time from
their parents. Time, Time, Time. And if you really want to give your time to
your kids, it may take some prioritizing in your own life.
• To raise kids,
• To be an author and write,
• To keep her home tidy.
I think you can guess which two she has chosen... :-)
We can recommend the same from the Zero Worry Parenting perspective, as
TIME is the most popular answer when kids are asked what they want most
from their parents. It is time and presence; two concepts that are almost the
same thing; two sides of the same coin.
The moments don't necessarily need to be that long. The older your kids are,
the less time they need from their parents, but they do need you to be
completely present in the moments that you share with them.
Give your time freely without expectation, and you will get your investment
back in some form, sooner or later. Every time you do it, it WILL be rewarded.
The more abundant your devotion is in terms of time and presence, the more
rewarding your return will be.
If you give your kid’s feelings your full attention, just for a few seconds, your
kid gets the feeling that they are accepted. The moment doesn’t need to last
very long. It’s far more important that you are present in your kid’s feeling and
give your full attention to them.
And for you – you will have invested in the finest emotional level of your
relationship with your child. As you both grow older, you will be much more
likely to keep sharing those moments.
A mother of three kids, all under school age, sighs, “I wish I could always remember
how much kids love to laugh. So easily, I become this drill sergeant to them, even
though I understand that my own life would be easier if I remembered to get things
done by laughing with them.”
Kids will actually come to you, and even help you with pleasure, when they
know it will lead to a few hearty laughs together. It's that important to them!
Laughter will easily replicate when they've grown up – they will like to visit
their old folks, knowing there will be good times to be had!
How much do you value the connection you have with your kids?
We think that it is the most valuable thing you have. It is all. If you are
connected to your kids, you will always know how they are. If you are not
connected, you can only guess how they are doing and hope the best for
them. But hopes can be far from their reality.
This could very well be one of the most touching stories ever told about this
connection:
An older lady who loved all kids without limits, regardless of whether they were her
own kids, grandkids or just anybody's kids, lived in a flat. Every night she would
listen through the wall as her young neighbors left their baby alone to cry herself to
sleep,while they left the house to go somewhere.
Her heart almost broke as she decided it was not a good idea to interfere in her
neighbor's family matters by ringing their door bell and suggesting that she take
care of the baby – but she desperately wanted to help the baby somehow.
This went on every night. Then she suddenly had a thought: she could sing for the
baby after the parents left. The baby would hear her singing on the other side of the
wall.
On the fifth night, the elderly lady started singing, right after she heard the baby
starting to cry. The baby quickly calmed down again.
Then she started to sing to the baby at the same time every night, before the crying
started. The baby clearly felt the connection with the caring lady. So it was a very
happy arrangement in the end.
You shouldn't stop trying to build that connection, even if your teenager starts
talking back to you in an opinionated manner. Just listen to them, because
that's how they’ll learn to want to start paying attention to you.
It's not necessarily that important what you say; that feeling of connection is
what matters. When that feeling is good and strong, kids will discuss even
sensitive issues with you.
So, now that the connection is there, what does this all lead to?
49
Zero Worry Parenting is...
all about nurturing both the child and childhood, as children have
an innate ability to live in accordance with the Law of Attraction,
respecting it and all its aspects.
Nurturing the child means that you try to see your kid just the way they
are, and allow their inner wisdom to grow from inside out.
When kids' wisdom gets to grow inside out, without any major
hindrances, it means that their strengths are allowed to grow stronger.
And at the same time, their weaknesses are also allowed to grow
stronger.
This way, you can learn to nurture your kids' weak, even fragile, seeds
to grow and become strong sprouts, and then seedlings.
When our kids get to be who they are, they feel freed up to become the
next American Idol, win an Olympic gold medal, become a Nobel
laureate, or whatever their ultimate dream may be.
Every parent is a perfect parent just the way they are, when they allow their
light to shine. What more could our kids ever need than for us to be just who
we are?
When you let your light shine, the light in which you see your kids, just the
way they are (and the light in which they see you), is brighter. The more they
get to be the way they truly are, the happier they will be.
When you let your light shine, you give yourself, as well as your kids, the
permission to blossom at your, and their, very bests. Zero Worry Parenting is
about enjoying your life to the fullest. The more you enjoy your life, the more
things you will have to enjoy in your life!
So start enjoying! :)