Whether it's "Good morning" when they clamber into bed for a cuddle first thing, a bright "Hello!" when I pick them up from school or a cheerful "Hiya" when they come into the room, I always try to make the effort to smile and greet my child joyfully when I see them.
This is why!
I'm happy to see them.
I love my children, just like any mother, and I'm happy to see them. Greeting them helps communicate that joy to them and looking and sounding happy makes me feel happy too! I want them to *know* that I am happy to see them and glad to be spending time with them, so I try to show them!
I value them.
I think my kids are awesome, amazing, wonderful, delightful and fantastic. If I don't think so, who else is going to think it?! If I don't believe it, what are they going to believe about themselves?! I want them to know how special I know them to be, so I do this little thing to try to show them that I respect them, I recognise them and I acknowledge them.
I think it's polite.
I would feel pretty peeved if my husband, or friend, or mum, or sister, or colleague, or boss didn't acknowledge me when they met me. I would feel disregarded, unimportant, under-valued and disrespected. I don't want to feel like that. I don't want my child to feel like that either!
Also, I want to teach them to treat other people with respect. I think I do this most effectively when I demonstrate it.
When I see my child there may be loads of important questions: Where is your book bag? What happened your coat? What on earth is on your face?!...But for one little moment I love to look at their beautiful faces, smile and rejoice in them. I love to tell them in one small "Hello" that I see them, I acknowledge them, I respect, value and honour them, I love them and I'm pleased to be with them. It is a happy way to start our time together. Start as you mean to go on!
No comments:
Post a Comment