Permission to Parent

There is never a time when screaming, shaming, or hitting a child is justified. True discipline does not involve any of those things. It is an opportunity to teach your child. In fact, discipline means “to teach.” Twelve-year-old Matthew was a tournament tennis

Thirty years later, his heart is still full as the memories of that night flicker on. CHAPTER NINE Love’s Lasting Legacy There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is. —Albert Einstein

Home is not just a place. Home is a state of being.” —Laura Carlin, author and blogger

was always very conscious of the routines in my home. After a while, routine becomes ritual.” —Elizabeth, mother of three And the ordinary becomes sacred. If home is remembered as solid ground, people can reach further and withstand greater challenges. Family traditions lay down roots. The deeper the roots, the higher the tree can grow toward the l

Trust me, I hear stories daily of adults who were scared of their parents or fed a diet of shame. I can promise you that this is not the recipe for self-esteem.

Your children and your children’s children will thank you. CHAPTER TEN Out of the Mouths of Babes Ask the young.

“The best gift my parents ever gave me was teaching me how to meditate. I saw how much it changed their lives, and it made my brother and me want to learn. It is such a gift to be able to find that place of peace and solitude within myself.” —Malika Chopra, 2013 lecture

“Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.” Don Miguel goes on to quote the definition of integrity as a state of wholeness or being unbroken. Think about that. Every time you tell even a tiny lie, you are chipping away at your own wholeness and eroding your self-esteem. It’s so much healthier to stay true to yours

When a mother or father trash talks their spouse or ex, the child is forced to defend the other parent. Try not to let home feel like a competition in which a child has to pick sides. Don’t discuss your relationship woes with your kids. Remember that our biggest task as parents is to build secure attachments, not competing ones. You don’t need to b