Rituals allow families to slow down and connect. 🥰 The best rituals also give children a sense of belonging and acceptance. This can be accomplished with something as simple as a special greeting or farewell.
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You probably have several family rituals and traditions of your own, perhaps without even realizing it.... See more
But because adults conceal their flaws, and at the same time insist on high standards of behavior for kids, a lot of kids grow up feeling they fall hopelessly short. They walk around feeling horribly evil for having used a swearword, while in fact most of the adults around them are doing much worse things.
fwiw I'm now quite enjoying having a baby, thanks to some mix of:
- baby is older and more active (almost crawling)
- attitude shifts on my part (nothing fancy, just getting more curious about skill-development - baby's and mine)
- getting 👇 off my chest helped me reorient
When boys are showing care and concern and support for other people, celebrate it in the same way that you might celebrate more traditional things that are celebrated for boys, like sports victories or catching a big fish. You want to celebrate when they care for friends or family, too