Age changes parenting. Experience changes how I parent. I am grateful to have this perspective, as a mom with a spread of 18 years. I do some things differently but more it's just an inner confidence.
I see that self-discipline is so important to teach. (Wait till dinner.)
The ability to hear and process the word no is so important. (You can't always get what you want.)
The gift of children knowing the world is not centered around them and their wants and learning how to cope with the discomfort that might entail is so so important. (Sitting still in church, respect for others at a restaurant, in a classroom...)
Being able to make themselves do hard things. (Finish the task, hike, project, chore.)
Enduring discomfort without an outside source (caregiver) rescuing. (Oh how we pamper our children today!)
Consequences. Natural ones!
The importance of teaching empathy, and social skills which is learned way before school age.
There is so much BIG work as a parent, and sometimes I see so much concentration today on the little ridiculou things as an older parent-things I know I worried on also starting out. Childhood is such an awesome chance to learn how to live in the world we were plopped into, and we have the gift as parent to teach our children the tools they will need to get through the ups and downs of life. That is in essence our job.
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