Shine a Light on the Good Stuff
Happy Thursday! You made it!
I have tried my hand at gardening more times than I care to admit. Turns out, you can’t just plant something and wait for it to flourish; you have to tend to it. That’s the part I struggle with. (In my defense, I’ve managed to keep 100% of my kids and pets thriving, so I count that as a major win. Plants? Those are another story. A+ for effort.)
The one thing I’ve learned, though, is this: The plants that get the right amount of water and sunlight are the ones that thrive. Shine a light on the beautiful blooms, and they will grow. Focus on the weeds, and they’ll take over.
Kids’ behavior works the same way. When we shine a light on the things we want to see more of, those things grow.
Here’s what this looks like in real life:
Pause when your child is helpful and shine a light on that behavior.
Highlight when they’re kind to their sibling, thoughtful, polite, or responsible.
Sure, they should be doing these things anyway – but the more you acknowledge small acts of greatness, the more that greatness blooms.
It won’t make all the weeds disappear, but it will make hanging out in your imperfect garden a little more enjoyable.
📚Resource of the Week:
Check out this website & books by Natalie Silverstein about giving back: Simple Acts and Simple Acts for Teens. It’s a short and powerful how-to for families looking to make a difference in their community.
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👋 Need More Support?
If you feel like it’s weeds all the way down, reach out here. Parenting doesn’t have to be this hard.
You’ve got this.
Cari
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