25 Ways To Be An Amazing Parent To Your Children

1. Teach them how to have a relationship with God.
2. Share your life's greatest moments with your children: the first time you met your spouse, the day you got married, the first time you held your newborn child in your arms and all of the stories that are as much their history as your's.
3. Every once in awhile, pack them into the car and take them somewhere totally unexpected - those are the days they will remember when they look back upon their childhood.
4. Read "Goodnight, Moon" like it was meant to be read: in a soft whisper, full of love and meaning, especially when the quiet old lady whispers "hush."
5. Start reading bedtime stories when they're too young to remember and don't stop until they're too old to forget.
6. Teach them that some things are worth believing, even if they're not true. When they're old enough, watch the movie Second Hand Lions to remind them of this powerful truth.
7. Stop watching TV. Instead, watch them.
8. Realize that your children are your most important job; raise them as if the future of the planet depends on it because, ultimately... it does.
9. End each day by saying "I love you" and telling them why they're so terrific.
10. When you have to make a choice between work and your kids, make the right choice: they need you.
11. Take responsibility for raising your children before your television, computer or video game console does.
12. Be a part of their lives before it's too late: watch what they're watching, listen to what they're hearing, know what they're thinking. 
13. Read The Bridge To Terabithia with them. When Jess dies, cry together. They need to know that in life there is joy and pain.
14. Don't be afraid tell them you love them too often. You can't.
15. Love your children even more when they're at their worst, and make sure to enjoy them when they're at their best.
16. Let them see you cry, get angry or make a mistake. The more human you are to them, the more they'll listen.
17. Teach them to laugh so hard that tears roll down their face. Do this often, for tears of joy are a gift from God.
18. BE the parent you want them to be. They're watching.
19. Try to see the world through their eyes but always remember that they need your help making sense of it all.
20. Dance on Sundays and laugh every day in-between.
21. Savor every "first moment" as important milestones along their journey: first time sledding, first friend, first day at school. They all matter.
22. Don't try to be perfect. Just be human.
23. Tell them about the time you read THAT amazing book in a single day so that they too will love reading.
24. When they tell you, "But everone else does it!" make sure they know that's the best reason of all NOT to do it. 
25. Make each birthday a grand celebration and resist the temptation to go through the motions. Your time with them on this planet is short: make it count.

Comments

[Carla]

Hi Sean - Who knew you had such a lovely website with so much inspiration, laughter and encouraging words. I love it. I am printing out your list of 25 ways to be a parent and am going to post it on my fridge as a reminder to me about the important things. Now that I'm at home, I am gaining a new found respect for patience and listening when it comes to my 3 little boys. This world needs more people like you Sean! Hope you are well.