Raising Your Child To Be Successful

The teacher stood in front of the classroom and asked her students what they wanted to be when they grew up….”I want to be a doctor when I grow up!” “I want to be a teacher when I grow up!” “I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up!” “I want to be construction worker when I grow up!” “I want to be a mom when I grow up!” “I want to be Super Man when I grow up!”

So how do WE, their MOM’S, help our children achieve their dreams and find their roles in the world? How do we help our children to be successful? Is it in our hands as parents? Is it in their teachers hands? Is it in their own hands?

The day the doctor laid my baby in my arms for the first time, an overwhelming feeling of love came over me – here I was, a 25 year old girl, who had hoped and prayed for this little miracle to come to me for many years…. was holding a beautiful, precious baby girl. And she was MINE! As many of you can probably relate, with all of the love I had in my heart for her, it was a bit nerve racking. This infant NEEDED me. ME. I was her source of food, shelter and comfort! It was up to ME, her mom, to make sure she was fed, had a clean diaper and was warm.

As time goes on {and unfortunately it does that… time just won’t stop!} our babies grow and will one day be toddlers, children, tweens, teens eventually adults. But no matter how old they become, we will ALWAYS be their moms.

In a world of sadness and heartache – a world full of evil and wickedness, as moms of the next generation, it is our duty, obligation, opportunity and privilege to raise our children to be the light in the world. To be examples of kindness and goodness. To be peacemakers and to spread happiness to others. To help them find their roles in the world and to be successful in life!

Photography by Ms. Photography

Today I share with you 10 Ways To Help Your Child To Be Successful. Things that us moms can do for our children to help them become the men and women we hope they become one day!

1. LET THEM HAVE AN IMAGINATION: I always thought I needed to entertain my one-year-old 100% of the time – but I read an article the other day that stated the importance of letting your child have alone time. If we are always entertaining and playing with them, they don’t have time to create their own games and have their own imaginations. Since I read that, I have let my little one explore her toys without me a few times a day, while I sit back and read or clean. I will watch her and I love what I see. She stacks the blocks and builds things on her own. She feeds and rocks her baby doll. She pushes her grocery cart around the house and acts like she is shopping {I have trained her well…we like to shop 😉 .} Allow your child to have an imagination and explore on their own.

2. HELP THEM FIND THEIR TALENTS: As moms, it is our responsibility to help our child find the things they are good at. Put your child in lots of different activities and classes and explore their true passions. One child might be really good at sports, while another is really good at painting. By showing our children the world, they have the opportunity to become whatever they want.

3. BE THEIR BIGGEST FAN: We all need a cheerleader. We all need someone there to help build us up and to tell us we are doing a good job. Help your child by encouraging them to keep going and to keep trying. Tell them what they are really good at and why you are proud of them. Even if my one-year-old does something good, we will clap our hands so she will know that what she did was the right thing. Often times, it will encourage her to do it again and again.

4. THEIR DREAM OR YOUR DREAM: Make sure you focus on what THEY want. If it were up to my husband, Laila would grow up to be a Professional Football Player and be the Quarterback for the Steelers. We know the importance of making sure we help her achieve HER dreams though – and her dads dreams may be a little different than hers.

5. HELP THEM MAKE FRIENDS: The importance of socializing our children is important. They need people skills. They need interaction with other children. Sign up for a class, create a playgroup of your own, join a playgroup {many can be found online or on Facebook}, take them to the library or set-up play dates. When they are babies and toddlers, it is completely up to us, their moms, on who their friends are. Try to get out of the house and help them interact with others.

6. FAMILY TIME IS HAPPY TIME: Friends will come and go in their lives, but family is forever. Make your home a happy place full of love and tenderness. Home should be where they WANT to be and feel most comfortable. Have family nights to play games. Eat dinner together. Sing songs. Have dance parties. Laugh and make memories.

7. YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE: Teach them to be happy. I consider myself a pretty happy person, but it is so funny because I am raising possibly the most serious child on earth. We are teaching her how to smile by telling her to show her teeth to everyone she sees. I believe a smile can make the world a better place.

8. GET A BABYSITTER: This may sound silly, but it is true. I have a hard time leaving my girl, but I have learned the importance of it. Your child needs time away, just as much as you need time away. It is good for them to be able to know that you can leave and that you will return.

9. DON’T OVERWHELM: With so many activities and things we can sign our children up for, be careful in compacting their lives TOO much. Marjorie Pay Hinckley said, “We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are.” We should try not to over pack schedules with too much to do – we all need a little play time and relaxing time.

10. LOVE THEM FOREVER: I love that motherhood is an eternal role. We get to be moms FOREVER – no matter how old we are or how old our children get. Something we can provide for them no matter what… is LOVE. After all, love is all you need.

We all want our children to be successful – and as their moms we have the benefit of helping them find their role in this world. With so much heartache and turmoil on earth, as moms of this next generation, we must stick together and help our children find joy, courage, strength and success in this world!

So one day when your child stands before their teacher and says what they want to be when the grow up… thanks to YOU… it can come true! Because with moms… anything is possible!

What do you do to help your children be successful? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

July 8, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 12 Comments