My Earliest Education in Parenting

[qos]

When I was growing up, my parents had a kind of kitschy-looking wall hanging (small) that was supposed to look as if it had been cross-stitched. It was called Children Learn What They Live. I grew up with these words floating in my awareness, and even as a child I had some understanding of how important they were. I knew from the atmosphere in our house that my parents took them seriously. Although I didn't exactly memorize them, they stuck in my mind and have informed my efforts to be a good parent to Wolfling.

I'm not sure what brought them to mind today, and was pleasantly surprised when they came up as an auto-fill on Google. (There are a couple of versions out there. This one is closest to what I remember.)

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,
He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice.

If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with generosity,
He learns to share.

If a child lives with approval,
He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with kindness and consideration,
He learns respect.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.


- Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.