The Best Passed-Down Parenting Advice

Once you have children, all those little things you recall hearing your parents say over, and over, and over when you were a child suddenly come back. But now, you are the one saying them to YOUR children!

As a child they may have seemed utterly meaningless, but today, we realize what a profound effect those simple words have had on us.

I thought it would be fun to share with you three “suggestions” I recall my family saying to me as I was growing up. I use these almost daily now with my own children.

Isn’t it funny how life turns?

In hindsight, I’m so incredibly thankful for the guidance my family gave me in my younger years to help mold me in to the woman I am today.

The Best Passed-Down Parenting Advice

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

It seems so simple, yet as a child, this seems so hard to comprehend sometimes. 1 + 1 = 2. Simple. Cause and effect with your words as a child, not so simple. I honeslty think some adults could use this “suggestion” as well.

2. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

We are big on teaching our girls that words are SO much more than just words. They are the root of things good and things bad. As my girls are growing, they are learning like all the other kids. Sometimes however, I don’t want my girls learning what other kids are doing. That being said, right now, as my little ladies are testing all that they know, this is a very obvious thing to say when they are learning to deal with their frustrations.

“Are you saying this with joy in your heart?”
“Will your words hurt or upset someone?”
“If what you are going to say isn’t going to make someone happy, don’t say it.”

3. Make it a point to do something nice for someone every. single. day.

No matter what it is, do something small or large. Whether it’s a flower for a sister or a note for dad when he is done working for the day. I now notice my 8-year-old doing these things without me having to prompt her. It makes my heart swell with pride when I see her get so excited about doing kind things!

Summer is in full swing over here, so I find myself using these words and suggestions quite often these days. Now that we are “full circle”, I fully understand and APPRECIATE the words I was told while growing up.

In an effort to help our children sprinkle grace into not only their lives, but the lives of others, we utilize the book Grace for the Moment: 365 Devotions for Kids. Not only is there so much wisdom from one of our favorite authors, Max Lucado, but his devotions are both relevant and easy to understand for our children.

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Your Turn

God is good and knows exactly what we need all the time! What advice were you told when you are younger that you are now sharing and teaching your children with?