If we view our children as stupid, naughty, disturbed, or guilty of their misdeeds, they will learn to behold themselves as foolish, faulty, or shameful specimens of humanity. They will regard us as judges from whom they wish to hide,… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
Once we begin to appreciate that the apparent destructiveness of the toddler in taking apart a flower or knocking down sand castles is in fact a constructive effort to understand unity, we are able to revise our view of the… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
Especially with our first child, we tend to take too much responsibility--both credit and blame--for everything. The more we wantto be good parents, the… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
The trouble with most problem-solving books for parents is that they start with the idea that the child has a problem. Then they try… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
Parenthood always comes as a shock. Postpartum blues? Postpartum panic is more like it. We set out to have a baby; what we get… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
The parent is the strongest statement that the child hears regarding what it means to be alive and real. More than what we say… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
Suddenly we have a baby who poops and cries, and we are trying to calm, clean up, and pin things together all at once.… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
“The child does not begin to fall until she becomes seriously interested in walking, until she actually begins learning. Falling is thus more an… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
The secret is to learn to sit at the feet of your own life and be taught by it. — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
Awareness of having better things to do with their lives is the secret to immunizing our children against false values--whether presented on television or… — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
Most of us would do more for our babies than we have ever been willing to do for anyone, even ourselves. — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
“If your children see that you are seeking, they will seek—the finding part is up to God.” — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
My list of things I never pictured myself saying when I pictured myself as a parent has grown over the years. — Polly Berrien Berends Copy Share Image
