Comments on: Creativity and Parenting

By: debbie

debbie — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 01:59:09 +0000

Hi Eren,

It was a big insight for me too when I discovered that I could choose how I reacted to any situation. I’m a gardener and decided early on that flowers and plants should be enjoyed by children in any manner they choose. I had a 5 year old friend of my daughter pick every bloom off of my hanging fuschia and bring them to me as a present. I was moved to tears (of joy). Her mother scolded her and I interrupted. Plants should be enjoyed I explained. It’s the only way people will learn to love gardening.

We joke around a lot in my family too. Your children are so lucky to have a well-grounded, funny mom! You’ll really see the benefits when they get to be teenagers.

One Love,
Debbie

By: Eren Mckay

Eren Mckay — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:48:12 +0000

Hi Debbie,
One thing I often do is add humor to situations, joke around, and play a lot. We have a whole crazy dynamic in your family that works out in the end. It takes a LOT for me to get serious. It’s so much more fun to make jokes out of situations.
Early on with 3 boys breaking everything, I decided to never get mad about broken stuff. This decision has been great for my emotional wellness. Other people find it strange that I don’t get upset, but I just find that my joy is sooo much more important than that object that just broke. Most of the time they’re accidents and what can you do about that? They just happen.
Loved your article as usual
Blessings,
Eren

By: Nate@an easy collaboration tool

Nate@an easy collaboration tool — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:52:25 +0000

I’m still not a parent. Maybe soon. But have you read 7 habits of highly effective people from Covey? In the book he’s got some neat stuff about his relationship with his son. Here’s an excerpt about how he helped his son learn the responsibility of taking care of the yard:

–
Covey: “So you boss yourself. Now, guess who your helper is.”

Son: “Who?”

Covey: “I am,” I said. “You boss me.”

Son: “I do?”

Covey: “That’s right. But my time to help is limited. Sometimes I’m away. But when I’m here, you tell me how I can help. I’ll do anything you want me to do”

–

Might not be immediately applicable to a 2 year old covered in lipstick . But still was an interesting way to look at a relationship with someone younger and who needs to learn new responsibilities.

And another thing I found recently was how the famous physicist and teacher Richard Feynman realized that his two kids learn the same things through different methods, so he needed to be careful to find the different techniques that were suitable for them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taEw97brZis&feature=player_embedded