Memos From Your Child
(… if they could ask you for what they REALLY need)
Don’t spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not have all that I ask for. I need to learn that I have to accept “no” for an answer sometimes.
Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it…it makes me feel secure.
Don’t let me form bad habits. I rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
Don’t make me feel like my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
Don’t protect me from consequences. I need to learn the hard way sometimes.
Don’t be too upset when I say “I hate you”. I don’t really mean it. I’m just using it to try and make you feel bad when I don’t get my own way.
Don’t take too much notice of my small minor ailments. Sometimes I use them to get extra attention.
Don’t make rash promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.
Don’t be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
Don’t tell me my fears are silly. They are real to me and I need your reassurance and understanding.
Don’t put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I will stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.
Don’t baby me. I know that I may want you to and that you may feel a need to do it but, as lovingly as you gave me my roots, you have to also give me my wings.
Don’t forget how quickly I am growing up. I know that it must be very difficult to keep pace with me but please keep trying. I can’t thrive without lots of understanding and love.
(… if they could ask you for what they REALLY need)
Don’t spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not have all that I ask for. I need to learn that I have to accept “no” for an answer sometimes.
Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it…it makes me feel secure.
Don’t let me form bad habits. I rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
Don’t make me feel like my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
Don’t protect me from consequences. I need to learn the hard way sometimes.
Don’t be too upset when I say “I hate you”. I don’t really mean it. I’m just using it to try and make you feel bad when I don’t get my own way.
Don’t take too much notice of my small minor ailments. Sometimes I use them to get extra attention.
Don’t make rash promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.
Don’t be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
Don’t tell me my fears are silly. They are real to me and I need your reassurance and understanding.
Don’t put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I will stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.
Don’t baby me. I know that I may want you to and that you may feel a need to do it but, as lovingly as you gave me my roots, you have to also give me my wings.
Don’t forget how quickly I am growing up. I know that it must be very difficult to keep pace with me but please keep trying. I can’t thrive without lots of understanding and love.