by
Susan
Kramer
Children
show us
that
our boundary of caring
needs
to extend
beyond
ourselves
Whether
we birth
or inherit
them
from
other relationships
Children
stretch our edges
of responsibility
as we
fulfill their needs
It is through bearing the responsibility for children and childlike elderly parents that we experience our interconnection between the generations. When we pass on to our children the lessons that we have learned so far, each succeeding generation evolves in consciousness.
In the family setting we give for the welfare of our children. Giving for a child's benefit is not give and take. We give, give, give, and do not receive in kind—a child does not have the capacity to give back to us in the same way.
What we do receive through caring for children is a shredding of our self-centeredness—our cage of self-containment—our concept that we are here on earth only to satisfy desires from our own mind.
We give to our children while they are growing up. What they give back to us is a permanent experience of ourselves as expansive beings—expansive in that we feel ourselves within the framework of others' lives.
Growth
through
taking responsibility
A natural
expression of living
Discipline with Ourselves and our Children
Mostly
our
guidelines for behavior
were
instilled in us as children
Modified
in our current life
from
trial and error
We guide our children according to what we think worked for us. As our consciousness expands, our ideas of effective discipline change.
Unconditional
love
allows
us to bear
with
the shortcomings children exhibit
in their
behavior
Self-discipline in our children comes from teaching them the benefits of self-motivated right behavior, allowing them to interrelate harmoniously.
Teaching
children self-motivation
gives
them an effective grounding
in time
and energy management
carrying
into adulthood
We instill
a child with personally motivated self-discipline by:
1. Being
a living example;
2. Planning
with and helping the child implement a schedule for all that needs to be
done during the day and coming week, the child gaining practice in time
and energy management in the process;
3. Setting
obtainable rewards for positive actions;
4. Letting
the consequences of negative actions be known to the child.
We are
all in transit
Individual
voyagers
traveling
with others
in the
boat of life
Self-motivated
Self-discipline
allows
time for completing
that
which we choose
while
easefully relating with others