One of my favorite quotes as I became a parent and realized it's relevance, especially as a mother of five and parenting education consultant to so many, is from the author Hodding Carter Jr.
He stated, "There are two lasting bequests we can give children; one is roots, the other wings.
" I believe now more than ever parents need a balance in the roots and wings they give their children.
We live in a time of abundant possibilities with children who are more insightful than any previous generation and with more resources than ever before.
Parenting in the past generally involved more rooting, but did not include enough encouragement of children to reach towards their potential.
There was a great amount of guilt from original families and expectations of others with an obvious absence in the promotion of children's independent spirits.
We live in a very different world now, but what remains steadfast is the grace and power in nature.
It is an amazing testament to the endless possibilities of life.
Parents' perspectives in raising rooted and winged children must also focus on great opportunities.
There is a lot parents can learn from nature and especially in the wonderment of trees and the lessons they teach humanity about life.
Just as the fullest, mightiest, most gorgeous tree is a source of strength, so are children.
They are unique, inspiring, and resilient.
The key, is to understand children from the inside out and love them for who they were born to be, not who you expected them to be.
Parents need to tend to their children as they would a seedling.
If you ever grew a seedling successfully you first needed to plant it in the richest soil - full of nutrients, give it enough water, plenty of sunlight, and just the right amount of fertilizer.
And then you allow nature to take its course.
You did not have to make the seedling grow, it just did.
A seedling then develops into a new growth or tender sapling that matures into a beautiful tree.
It is simple and organic.
When children are surrounded by unconditional love, gentle guidance, real engagement, and genuine acceptance for who they are, they too shall grow into wonderful living beings, giants in their own right.
Providing children with roots signifies giving them opportunities to build confidence and a strong sense of themselves.
That has to start as early as possible.
You can't just give them a sense of self, they have to earn it through trial and error, and guidance.
It is a process of trust and communicating from the beginning.
Giving them wings means allowing them the freedom to grow towards the light, in the promises of tomorrow so they will believe in their potential.
This too is a process.
Allowing children to make decision at the earliest of ages will teach them to be independent thinkers and trust their inner wisdom.
So, be sure to plant your child's feet deep in the soil of consciousness so that they ascend with gumption and ambition to advance and be everything they were born to be.
If acceptance, trust, goodness, faith, and worth colors the way you raise your children, then you are bound to experience fulfillment.
They will be balanced.
You all will live happier in life.
Children need to feel grounded, productive, and empowered as they explore their interests and capabilities.
Children need support from their parents, teachers, families, and communities to form brilliant foundations and to branch out in life and discover their greatness.
Recognize that each child is a gift and each child has a gift or talent to share with the world.
Parents have the awesome opportunity to help them find and nurture their gifts.
Contemporary parents must be innovators in building families with new perspectives and the absence of limiting beliefs.
As the great Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
" Believe in your dreams and those of your child's.
Continue to encourage them with love and acceptance as you grow empowering environments that generate alignment within your family.