Are you a kind person? Were you kind as a pre-teen? It's a question rarely asked. In a world full of uncertainties, and with the holidays around the corner, there's no time like the present (no pun intended) to evaluate this question. I'm not asking you if you donated clothing to a local shelter or if you and your tween helped support a family in need with your local church. I believe people have an innate love for giving, especially around the holiday season. I'm talking about when you're alone.
Do you think kind thoughts or do you find your brain running off like an unruly child with thoughts of jealously, anger, or inadequacy?
Social media can be a friend or foe to our mental psyche. If adult women find it difficult to navigate feelings associated with the fear of being left out or not having enough, where does that leave our pre-teen girls? How do their impressionable minds adapt when we, ourselves, have problems with the process. The young girls in our lives may have the thoughts they have as a result of emulating us. Do you speak incessantly about your weight, about the neighbors having more, or what someone recently wore? Young ears unfortunately hear everything, and will soak it up and spit it out. Teach your sweet girls self-love and kindness to themselves and to others. Put the phones down and have real conversations. Ask your pre-teen questions and listen more than you speak (that's still a work in progress for me).
As I write this, please keep in mind, I'm not an expert, but rather a student of life. I struggle with the same issues I write about. The reason for the blogs is to open our minds and start a conversation. As our pre-teen girls go through the difficult years of puberty, any tools we give them could make a huge difference. One primary tool is kindness. Planting that seed will not only help them today but will remain with them for a lifetime.
Question of the Week: What advice about kindness can you give to the pre-teen girl in your life?
If you enjoy my blogs, please consider purchasing Book 1 of my series, The Rebecca Chronicles. The topics in my blogs are a direct reflection of what I write in my books.
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