Having brought up three young men, I think of their accomplishments and their downfalls. I try to find out what is that helps them through their toughest moments and makes them stronger.
We have always been proud of all their accomplishments, their will to finish up what they have started without expecting them to be perfect but to have strong self-worth and love for themselves and for others as well as for their heritage.
Bringing them up as young kids our most important and strong value was to teach them respect. To respect themselves as well as others, older and younger, we did not negotiate on this matter at all. No insulting nor bullying was allowed, for us, respect was the base of any child from a good, strong, and loving family.
Our constant show of love was most important at home, no matter the behavior, always after any punishment or scolding, we reinforced our love to them, separating their misbehavior from the child himself.
Now as young men, they remind us that what helped them through their hardest teenage years, their depressions, their falling out of love had been our love for them. That makes us feel that at least we have done that right.
We pray that our love will always make them stronger and safer in this difficult and confusing world.
In the end, what really matters in life is to show our kids the power of love!
SVS
