The following are an adaptation The following are an adaptation of the ten commitments of great of the ten commitments of great

parents developed by parents developed by psychologist Todd E. Linaman.psychologist Todd E. Linaman. Click to

proceed...

There are ten commitments that remind us of the most There are ten commitments that remind us of the most important sacrifices parents can make to raise highly important sacrifices parents can make to raise highly

healthy children.healthy children.These commitments (with perhaps the exception of These commitments (with perhaps the exception of

number 7)number 7)are choices each of us are choices each of us can make, regardless can make, regardless of our personal lifeof our personal life

circumstances.circumstances.

1. Provide for physical needs. Growing 1. Provide for physical needs. Growing children need healthy diets, adequate children need healthy diets, adequate

clothing, quality health care, and protection clothing, quality health care, and protection from harm.from harm.

2. Be there for them. When your children talk to 2. Be there for them. When your children talk to you, turn off the television, face them, and really you, turn off the television, face them, and really listen. As much as possible, attend Little League listen. As much as possible, attend Little League games, school conferences, and band concerts.games, school conferences, and band concerts.

Your presence, Your presence, attention, and attention, and

availability will make availability will make a significant a significant

difference in the difference in the lives of your lives of your

children.children.

3. Give them “roots and wings.” Children need to try new 3. Give them “roots and wings.” Children need to try new things. They need the opportunity to try and to learn things. They need the opportunity to try and to learn

from the experience. Supportive family “roots” will soften from the experience. Supportive family “roots” will soften any falls and give them a stable place to land.any falls and give them a stable place to land.

4. Balance individuality with absolutes. Each child is 4. Balance individuality with absolutes. Each child is unique. Celebrate individual strengths and try to see life unique. Celebrate individual strengths and try to see life from your child’s perspective. Show respect for personal from your child’s perspective. Show respect for personal preferences and fears. At the same time, operate from preferences and fears. At the same time, operate from

the strength of your convictions. the strength of your convictions. Children need the Children need the

security of security of unmovableunmovable

boundaries and boundaries and guidelines for guidelines for

behavior.behavior.

5. Hold them accountable. Children want 5. Hold them accountable. Children want to do what’s right, and they want to be to do what’s right, and they want to be

accepted. If they’ve done wrong, accepted. If they’ve done wrong, encourage them to make amend.encourage them to make amend.

Doing so restores their Doing so restores their self-respectself-respect and lets and lets

them know that their them know that their behaviors have behaviors have consequences.consequences.

6. Admit when you’re wrong. As parents we make 6. Admit when you’re wrong. As parents we make mistakes, and our children can see it--whether we mistakes, and our children can see it--whether we admit it or not. If we’re willing to say, “I blew it; I’m admit it or not. If we’re willing to say, “I blew it; I’m sorry,” our children learn that our relationship with sorry,” our children learn that our relationship with them is more important than maintainingthem is more important than maintainingthe upper hand. It gives the upper hand. It gives

them the freedom to admit them the freedom to admit theirtheirmistakes as well. Facing mistakes as well. Facing

the truth is a key to good the truth is a key to good emotional health.emotional health.

7. Love your spouse. Your children need 7. Love your spouse. Your children need the security and example of your love the security and example of your love

for one another.for one another.

8. Practice what you preach . Actions speak 8. Practice what you preach . Actions speak louder than words. If you tell your children louder than words. If you tell your children

to respect their teachers while you bad-to respect their teachers while you bad-mouth your boss, don’t expect good mouth your boss, don’t expect good

behavior reports at school behavior reports at school conference time! conference time! Fight the temptation Fight the temptation to just drop them off to just drop them off at church--go with at church--go with

them!them!

9. Demonstrate a love of learning. If you read for enjoyment and 9. Demonstrate a love of learning. If you read for enjoyment and self-improvement, your children are more likely to enjoy learning. self-improvement, your children are more likely to enjoy learning. Read with them and discuss new ideas to stimulate their thinking. Read with them and discuss new ideas to stimulate their thinking. Help your children reach conclusions for themselves. Also, expose Help your children reach conclusions for themselves. Also, expose

your childrenyour children

library, surfing the library, surfing the Internet with them, Internet with them, and taking them to and taking them to

museums.museums.

to new opportunities for to new opportunities for learning, such as going to the learning, such as going to the

10. Never give up on them! As our children grow up, some 10. Never give up on them! As our children grow up, some ofof

them will make us think we have done a good job; othersthem will make us think we have done a good job; othersmay make us wonder if we did anything right at all. The may make us wonder if we did anything right at all. The

timetimecomes when we have to back off and let our children makecomes when we have to back off and let our children make

their own decisions and mistakes. their own decisions and mistakes. But we must never stopBut we must never stop

loving them or loving them or encouraging them to be encouraging them to be

the best they can be.the best they can be.