Tips for Helping Your Child Be Successful

I figured my August topic – Helping Kids Be Successful – would be easy.  I have two successful kids, so piece of cake, right?  Wrong.

As the deadline approached I realized I had made three highly illogical assumptions:

1.  That “success” is easy to define and measure

2.  That what helps one kid helps all kids

3.  That I had anything at all to do with my kids’ successes

Oh, the hubris.

Probably the only thing I am sure about,  in terms of my role, is...
...my parenting golden rule:  Put the books in the crib and hope for the best.

But there are some seeds I’ve done my best to plant and water.

•The only thing you can control is your own behavior.

•Keep your eyes on your own paper, literally and figuratively.

•There is freedom in taking nothing personally.

•Keep your eyes on the road, keep your hands on the wheel, and wear sunscreen.

•Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

•Just like the floor, Mom will be there for you when you fall.

Contributed by Elaine Jack, Assistant Editor, Today's Family magazine.

Photo via Dr. Steve McSwain