MARCH 2016
Kids By Traci L. Carman Most of us are familiar with forgiveness,
whether we learned it in childhood or later in life. It’s not an easy concept for a lot of people. Many times we feel we have to accept the unacceptable or forget the unforgettable in order to forgive. We are afraid to “let them off the hook.” In reality, when we forgive, we are letting ourselves off the hook. We are saying no to bitterness, resentment and a hardened heart. Have you ever heard the saying
that holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other per- son to die? Not a good choice. I realized the other day that most of us don’t think of forgiveness in terms
of parenting. Parents love unconditionally; it’s natural for us. Yet, how often do we dislike a certain behavior in our child, or feel disrespected, or even get mad at ourselves (or our spouse) for how we handled a situation? Those things add up, and they create walls which separate us from our family. Forgiveness is an excellent tool to free us up to be better parents. It al-
lows our hearts to stay soft. It allows us to let go of the past, freeing us up to set healthy boundaries from love. It frees us up to live! If you ever wanted to clear the slate for yourself, now is a great time. If
you are frustrated with your children, your life, or just find yourself feeling bogged down, you might be holding on to something that is holding you back. It could be with your children, yourself, your spouse, a neighbor, a family member, teacher, co-worker, and so on. We are disappointed daily, and so are our kids. It’s time to let go, and to teach them how to do the
same. It's a simple process, and will make an immediate and huge impact on your ability to connect with your children and to parent with a soft and loving heart (so important for the parent child relationship). Take a moment right now; you can do it privately. Simply think of a per-
son that has done something that has hurt you, no matter when it was. Pic- ture them in your head, and say these words, “I choose to forgive you (name) for (what they did that hurt you).” Start with something small and recent, if you can. Moms in particular hold on to a lot of guilt. Are you willing to forgive your-
self for the things you have done or not done? Are you willing to let go of blaming your spouse? Is there resentment building up towards your children for something? Wouldn't it be worth letting it go, so you can be in the present moment and move forward from here? Forgiveness is a great start! The process I shared above is a simplified version. If you would like some
assistance in letting things go and learning how to forgive, feel free to contact me. You can let go of whatever is holding you back from having the parent child relationship and home life that you desire. It’s a daily choice. If you would like some additional simple tips on parenting, take advan-
tage of our Moms Making a Difference Program as my free gift to Neighbors readers:
www.alovingway.com. We also offer parenting workshops, classes and coaching. Call or email to get on our e-list! Traci Carman is Founder and CEO of A Loving Way ~ How You
Parent Makes a Difference. She is known for her practical and intu- itive parenting style, and can be reached for questions or consulta- tion at 951-240-1407 or
tracicarman@alovingway.com.
PAGE 29 Conscious Parenting ~ Forgiveness
March 19, 2016 at 7:30 pm Featuring Inland Valley Youth Symphony conducted by Thomas
Kociela and Inland Valley Junior Youth Symphony conducted by Scott Merrin. We are pleased to announce a special guest performance by Chaparral Middle School Wind Ensemble from Diamond Bar, CA, di- rected by Leslie Schroerlucke. In cooperation with Music Celebrations International, the Wind Ensemble has performed in national venues in- cluding the Chicago Symphony Hall in 2010 for the Percy Grainger Festival and the May 2015 performance at the Kennedy Center as part of the John Philip Sousa Festival.
Join us for this exciting concert!
Temecula Valley High School, Golden Bears Theater, 31555 Rancho Vista Rd., Temecula, CA 92592.
Adults $15, Students $5, Children 12 and under are Free. Call 951-587-1536 for more info
www.InlandValleyYouthSymphony.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48