PARDES
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. Be supportive. This is my number one tip. Many of you have
sacrificed a lot in your own lives to give your children the best.
Sometimes you have fantasized that they may be an all-star
athlete, the valedictorian, or the country’s most established
surgeon. Realize that your dreams are not always their dreams. Guide
them to be the best at what they want to be. When they see how
much you care, they will run to you and want to share their accomplishments with you.
. Quality time. Growing up at home, it was mandatory to sit at
the table for dinner. There were no phones allowed and it was
wonderful. In the past few years, that tradition has diminished,
even in my household, but I really recommend that all families
adopt this habit. Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had with
my parents began at the dinner table.
. Learn from them, too. It’s easy to be authoritative and create a divide between you and your children if they fear you
as their boss. Realize that fear is not healthy in a relationship.
Be disciplined, but remember that your children have more
to offer than you expect. Let them teach you about things you may
not know and don’t feel ashamed that you can learn from them, too.
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PARDESMAGAZINE.COM
PARDES MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2014
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