I begin every parenting presentation with a simple question:
When your job as a full-time parent starts to wind down and your child is stepping into adulthood, what kind of values do you want them to leave with?
I’ve asked this question hundreds of times, and the answers are remarkably consistent. Parents say things like: kind,strong,happy, successful, family oriented,
What I never hear is: “The best soccer player,” “An award-winning dancer,” or “A concert pianist”.
When it comes to the core of who we want our kids to become, it's not about trophies or talent. It's about character.
So how do we raise children with strong character and values?
In working with many families and studying a variety of parenting approaches over the years, I’ve noticed that while the methods may differ, certain foundational elements consistently show up in families raising happy, healthy, well-adjusted kids.
And it starts with you, the parent.
Look at what you truly value. Model it. Talk about it. Learn about it. Live it.
But here’s the key: it has to be authentic.
~You can’t say you want your child to have grit but then shield them from failure.
~You can’t say you want them to be generous without showing them what generosity looks like in your own life.
~You can’t claim to value family time but then treat it as an afterthought in your daily schedule.
Kids learn best not by what we say, but by what we do.
As we enter the new school year, it’s a perfect time to reflect on how we parent—and how we might grow. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be diving deeper into strategies that help children thrive. But for now, here are some universal themes that most parenting experts agree on:
Communication: Open, honest, and frequent.
Consistency: In words, actions, routines, and discipline.
Clear Expectations: Children need to know the rules and also have…..
Natural consequences-acknowledge good behavior and correct or redirect bad choices.
Freedom to fail: Allow your child to make mistakes and learn from them. Failure is a powerful teacher.
Belief: Show them that you believe they can do hard things.
Unconditional Love: This one speaks for itself.
Acceptance: Let your child be who they are, not who you hope they’ll become. As my husband likes to say, “try to meet them where they are”
As we kick off the school year, let’s keep these values at the forefront. Your child may not remember every homework assignment or soccer game—but they’ll remember how you made them feel, the values you lived by, and the love you gave unconditionally.
Stay tuned as we explore more practical ways to raise children with character, resilience, and love.
As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me at e3kristin@gmail.com