Our 31 days to the inner rhythm of the heart, the root foundation of a house of peace, is in progress. In the vein of those who are setting a New Year’s intention with “one word”, I offer the word of today to you: authentic leadership. Read on for more…
Children need a kind, gentle and connected parent. They also need someone to help guide them, answer their questions, help them think of angles they may not have thought of before, to protect them, to make choices that will support and nourish them, and a myriad of other things. These things require a gentle and authentic leadership from an adult.
You are the adult placed into this child’s life for a reason. You have experience and gifts and talents to share. Children are our greatest teachers, but yet we have things to offer with our unhurried time as a leader.
Being an authentic leader requires some thinking. What are your family’s values, and why? How is this shown, modeled, communicated (to older children)? What are the characteristics of being an authentic leader? Do the best leaders yell at people or do they do other things to motivate, teach, guide, and relate? Do you have a sense of humor, a generous spirit, an ability to laugh and smile? Do you have an ability to be decisive, to be assertive but not unfair or aggressive? Can you take the viewpoint of the child, the consciousness of the child into your spirit so deeply and work from that? All of these qualities have nothing to do with yelling to get what you want. Yelling is often like trying to steer a car just by honking your horn very loudly!
No more yelling. It doesn’t work at all. Hug your children and love them. Life is so short. Be authentic, and be happy.
Blessings,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
Thanks. I needed to hear something like this today, Rene
Geez! This whole piece just hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m struggling with yelling right now. everyday i start by giving myself pep talk & have the best intentions to not yell but usually by mid morning I’m tired of my three daughters not listening or responding to me. I feel like it is such a passionate response to me being assertive but it gets me nowhere. I don’t want to yell. I want to be a communicator like my daughters teacher who finds the underlying issue instantly & doesn’t react. I have long going ptsd (which I’ve always treated with therapy) & i wondered if yelling could be a reaction that just comes naturally to me to feel I’m being heard? I’m planning to homeschool my oldest daughter this upcoming school year (she’s almost six) & I’m scared of losing my cool but i desperately want to attempt it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just love what you write. I don’t always remember to check my feeds but when i do I’m so drawn to all your advice. Thanks so much, Chelsea
Chelsea,
I will send you a private email soon.
Blessings,
Carrie