Top 5 Tips

   This week our subject is parental advice. What are the top 5 tips from your parents that have been useful? I literally use advice and tips from my mother all the time. Every day. Yet when it came time to write down only five, my top five, it proved to be very hard. So I'm going to share five, maybe my top five? I guess it depends on the day, right? 

The first one will sound funny and mean all at the same time but trust me, it helps. Don't look at children when they fall. I told you - sounds mean, but it's not. What she means is when you see a kid going to fall (obviously not a BAD fall, just a normal every day fall) do NOT make direct eye contact. Generally the first thing a child will do when they fall is look at you. if they see you looking at them they will cry. Why this happens I don't know, but it does. I've become a PRO at this! I now look away, wait a second.. is there crying? If the answer is no then I continue to look away ask 'you okay?' THEN look to get the answer. Of course if the child cries that's a whole different story. 

The second one also ties in with the third and fourth. Don't take shit from people. You don't have to deal with people treating you like crap. You do not have to deal with disrespect and hatefulness. 

However, you must also choose your battles. Not every fight is a fight worth having. This doesn't mean letting someone get away with murder if you've already argued with them over something that day. It means choosing which things you feel is worth pushing that conversation a littler further. For example if I'm dealing with a child and they don't want to do something, like pick up a toy. Is it worth the fight? Is it absolutely necessary for them to pick up that toy right this second. Sometimes it is easier for me to pick up the toy then fight with a child about it for fifteen minutes. Did the child play with it and leave it, if the answer is yes, then it's probably not a fight I'm going to pick. Did the child throw it out of temper? yes? Then we're going to talk about it and the toy will be picked up. See what I mean? 

Sometimes, if you've chosen that this is a battle worth having, kill the with kindness. No matter how angry and displeased you are, screaming, yelling, cursing, becoming belligerent is not going to get you anywhere. People are more likely to help you or deal with you if you are stating your peace but doing it respectfully and kindly. Of course this isn't always applicable but when it is. It works wonders. Also when someone is expecting hate to come spewing from your mouth and they get kindness instead it annoys them to no end. This can end up being very gratifying for you (haha). 

Last but not least you must forgive people. When you hold on to hate in only hurts you, it doesn't hurt them. For the longest time I thought my mother wanted me to just forget what happened but that is not what she was saying. She was saying do not hold hate in your heart for these people that aren't worth your time. Forgive them, they're ignorant but don't forget what they did. Guard your heart more closely when they are near. This is so important because she's absolutely right. What does me having so much hate for a person do? They don't know or don't care and meanwhile I'm stewing over it and just stressing myself out! It's not worth it. 

This was much harder to do then I thought it would be. My mother taught me everything I know so how do I pick just five? I'm going to end this post with three more of my mom's 'words of wisdom' but without the explanations. If you want to know more just ask. Also, let me know what some of the tips and advice you've gotten from your parents!

Take it one step at a time.           Don't sweat the small stuff!

Don't project (deal with things as them come)!

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