Joyful Jewish

I have been reading through parenting advice I’ve accumulated over the years, and putting links to the things I found most valuable into a new page on this site.
Here is one that really sums up a lot of what I enjoy about being a parent.

So often, today, we hear about the costs of having children. These are usually described as economic, social or career costs. We hear talk of the sacrifices made by adults in their lives as a result of having children.

It is sometimes easy to lose sight of what is important. In the middle of life’s busy pace, take the time out to reflect on the ways your child contributes to your life rather than on what else you can do for your child.

Children enrich our lives in so many ways

Children give parents:

• Unconditional love and admiration just for being you
• Trust that you are the strongest, wisest and bravest person in the world
• The chance to be a hero
• The chance to be a child again through sharing in the magic and wonder of their emerging world
• The chance to experience an intensity of emotion and range of strengths and skills that may otherwise have remained hidden from you
• The chance to reflect on your own values, attitudes and assumptions about the world
• The chance to re-experience the joy and pleasure to be found in children’s play
• The chance to share in their fun and their laughter
• The chance to revisit your own childhood
• The chance to take time out from being a grown up

One of the greatest gifts parents can give themselves is time with their children. Take some time each day to laugh, cry, play, dream, wonder and explore with your child.

Taken from http://www.kidscount.com.au/  – from the section “Thinking about being a parent”.