Well done is better than well said

"Well done is better than well said"!  This quote by Benjamin Franklin reminds us of the importance of action over words. Also, it emphasizes the importance of backing up our words as parents with visible and concrete action.

Remember, your children are constantly observing your actions. As a parent, it's crucial to set a good example for them to follow.

When I ask my daughter, "Have you brushed your teeth yet?" she replies with the same question😊

And guess what? We go to brush our teeth together…

If I suggest to her that she should eat less because she is already overweight, she often doesn't listen and instead responds, "But mom, you have a big belly." That's why we've both decided to adopt healthier habits. You can read more about this topic in the "Adopting Healthy Habits" post.

Let's return to the topic at hand.

After third grade, my daughter didn't like to read.

Yes, of course, I did my parenting job 😊. When she was a preschooler, I read her many bedtime stories. We went through The Children's Bible three times, The Little Prince twice, and The Nutcracker and Other Stories two times. I also shared a series of books by the talented Tony Wolf about "Woodland Folk."

After first grade, we didn’t receive a list of reading books for school.

I continued to read to her before bed.

At the end of second grade, she got a school reading list, but it only contained three books. And guess what? She still wanted me to read to her! 😊 I didn’t think it was a big deal, so we made a compromise. We agreed that she would read aloud a few pages, and I would read aloud the same amount.

The problem occurred after third grade when the school reading list included nine books! And she was supposed to read it all, retell those books in writing, and analyze ☹️.

Nine books! I couldn't read nine books aloud☹️. It was time for her to become a bit more independent in reading. She did a fantastic job reading seven on her own, and we enjoyed reading two together as a team. That summer break remained in our memory as a working one.

Her aversion to reading began to show when she no longer wanted me to read to her before bed. Funny enough, for her birthday, her school friends gifted her mostly books 😊, but she didn’t even consider reading them. I realized I had to do something.

Then, a golden rule helped: If you want your child to do something, do it yourself first.

After finishing my work, I began reading books in the afternoon. It was a habit I hadn't developed until then. I wanted to set a good example for my child, showing her that reading can be a form of relaxation rather than just a dreary school obligation. Fortunately, it worked. The books she received for her birthday began to open their pages.

We called it "The Reading Club."

Whenever I said, "It's time for The Reading Club," she would pick up a book, sometimes with more enthusiasm and sometimes less, depending on the day. On good days, she couldn't even stop reading until dinner time.

We all want to be the best parents we can be and raise our children in a positive direction. To achieve this, we also need to focus on improving ourselves. This journey of self-improvement is not just for us; it serves as a powerful motivator for our children as well.

While this may seem like a daunting task, it's important to recognize that many easy choices—like fast food, lounging on the couch, watching TV, playing video games, and countless other instant pleasures—are not the best options. In the long run, prioritizing long-term rewards over immediate gratification is essential for our personal development.

I acknowledge that I am far from perfect 😊. I can be lazy, anxious, tired, and frustrated. However, I believe the most important thing is to be aware of my flaws and make an effort to correct them. It's a daily struggle for me. There is no point at which I can say, "I have succeeded for good." I face my own self-improvement challenges every day while also raising a child. 😊