| In good parenting there are three magic words to | | | | experience consequences, but they also always need |
| live by: I love you. Saying these words over and over | | | | to know that you still love them. This does not |
| again is very important to get you through the hard | | | | belittle the impact of the lesson, but rather cements |
| times and to get your children over the hurdles in life. | | | | the message that you are not punishing them out of |
| Many times parents do not realize the strong | | | | anger, hate or impatience. Though your children may |
| influence of these words. Children who grow up | | | | not want to hear it, you are doing it for their own |
| never hearing them can end up bitter and may have | | | | good to teach them the difference between right |
| very difficult relationship problems, including but not | | | | and wrong. It may feel unrewarding to hear your |
| limited to an inability to say the words themselves. | | | | child's anger at something you did out of love, but |
| Even if you know that your children know you love | | | | rest easy knowing that one day they will thank you |
| them, continue to remind them, even when your | | | | for it, even if it is not until they have children of their |
| children become teenagers. They may not respond | | | | own. |
| to it or even seem to care that you are saying it, | | | | Even when your children are doing things you don't |
| but the words are sticking. | | | | like, respect them and love them. When your |
| Saying "I love you" is only half the battle. You also | | | | daughter wears too much makeup or your son gets |
| have to show "I love you." A kiss, a hug, a small | | | | his nose pierced, continue to show them that you |
| sacrifice or a small favor may be all that it takes to | | | | love who they are, even if you do not always |
| show that you mean these words. It may seem | | | | approve of their fashion choices. It is important to be |
| simple, but there are times in life when this will take | | | | supportive of your children as they try to discover |
| incredible patience, time and unfaltering dedication and | | | | who they are and who they will become. It is not |
| sacrifice to follow through. | | | | worth arguing over things that hold little significance, |
| Sometimes love means saying no. You feel an | | | | because you will need that strength later to fight |
| obligation to protect your child from harm, and if that | | | | over real issues that affect your child's well-being. |
| means preventing your child from doing some of the | | | | There are a lot of disappointments that your children |
| things he or she wants to do, then so be it. Life can | | | | will have to bear throughout their lifetimes; do not let |
| be dangerous and unpredictable. Saying no is a sign | | | | your love be one of them. Letting your children know |
| that you will accept your children's anger in exchange | | | | that you love them could end up being their one ray |
| for your comfort that they are safe and for the | | | | of hope during the dark times in their lives. No matter |
| knowledge that they are likely to be healthier in the | | | | what goes wrong or how bad things seem they will |
| long run. Their anger will not last for long but the | | | | always know that they have the love and support of |
| good that comes from saying no will impact the kind | | | | their family to fall back on. Let this love guide them |
| of people they turn out to be. | | | | through the best and worst of times. |
| When your children misbehave, they need to | | | | |