Every once in a while I read parenting advice so profound that it taps my mother-lode of emotion and makes me cry.
The latest item to cause my watery eyes was an article a friend posted on Facebook, "6 Words You Should Say Today."
In the piece, the author quotes
a story on sports parents.
"College athletes were asked what their parents said that made them feel great, that amplified their joy during and after a ballgame. Their overwhelming response: 'I love to watch you play.'"
The author is so touched by the advice that she quickly to applies it with her own children. She tells her older daughter at a competitive swim meet, "I love to watch you swim." She expresses the same sentiment to her younger daughter after a ukulele lesson. The statements are met with relief and hugs and thanks.
After the music lesson, the author says: "I swear I could read her mind:
The pressure's off. She loves to hear me play; that is all."
You can read the entire blog at
tulsaworld.com/6words.
The advice is simple, eloquent and to the point.
As I reflect on my daughters' soccer games, performances or art shows they entered and my attempts to "help" them after the fact, it makes me cringe.
I'm going to take the advice to heart and work on telling my daughters how much I love to watch them -- and stopping there. I pledge to stop critiquing and coaching. To quit nitpicking.
Instead, I will enjoy the moment. Revel in the performance. Embrace the activity.
I will give them space to explore their talent or passion without my judgment.
And I'll start as soon as I stop bawling.
Follow Colleen Almeida Smith on Twitter.
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