Something to think about Sunday - Helping without Hovering

I saw this article in the Ensign Magazine. 

It was called Helping without Hovering by Mark D Ogletree. In it he listed "five ways to help your children become independent". 

Here are a few excerpts I found helpful.

"President Boyd K. Packer has written, “I think one of the major mistakes in teaching children is the tendency for parents to be bothered when children want to participate and to learn something. … Our children were allowed to help when they were little, urged to help when they grew a little older, and sometimes ordered to help when they were teenagers. They have, accordingly, learned to do many things for themselves, and very expertly.”^"

 ^{This is something I need to work on - a lot of times when my kids want to help, I don't let them because either I don't want a mess, or I'm in a hurry and don't want to help them learn.} 

"Consider giving your children clear communication about rules in your home and what will happen if those rules are disobeyed—and then consistently follow through with the consequences when necessary."

This is plain old common sense but so hard to execute at times. It's something else I need to work on. 

 "Good parenting sometimes means allowing our children to fail and to deal with some heartbreaking experiences. President Thomas S. Monson reminds us that “life was never intended to consist of a glut of luxury, be an easy course, or filled only with success. There are those games which we lose, those races in which we finish last, and those promotions which never come. Such experiences provide an opportunity for us to show our determination and to rise above disappointment.”^"

I think this is so important to remember, not only for our kids but for ourselves.