1. Let them tell their entire story to you without you interrupting or rushing them through.
2. Value their emotions, don’t discount them, and seek to understand their hearts.
3. Play with them without your to-do list agenda distracting you.
4. Clean their room as a surprise.
5. Let them choose dinner.
6. Let them help you cook dinner while you don’t worry about the mess.
7. Go for drives with them and show them the sunrise or sunset. Or just the beauty of the world.
8. Teach them about faith and joy and love.
9. Display their artwork.
10. Let them order whatever they want from the Starbucks menu.
11. Help them give back.
12. Get down on their level, look in their eyes, and tell them you love them.
13. When they want to help, let them, even though it takes considerably more time.
14. Teach them that less is more.
15. Keep the wonder moments in life.
16. Be optimistic.
17. Sit and read with them. Add in extra books.
18. Tuck them in at night.
19. Get up before them, get ready, so that when they wake up you can be present.
20. Teach them to speak the truth and value others.
21. Stop saying in a minute and just do it now.
22. Create family traditions and keep them.
23. Forgive. And forget.
24. Teach them to write thank you notes.
25. Let them be creative.
26. When they’re little if their clothes don’t match leave it.
27. Guard their innocence.
28. Don’t rush their growing up.
29. Don’t mourn their growing up.
30. Embrace each day for what it is – a gift.
31. Send them notes.
32. Get in the picture with them.
33. Teach them to love others and value them.
34. Listen to their plans for the future and support their dreams.
35. Have an abundance of books in your home.
36. Have an abundance of paper, pens, pencils, and markers.
37. Have an abundance of patience.
38. Watch movies together past bedtime.
39. Go to midnight movie premieres if you can.
40. Look at the years that they are in your home as finite and guard your time.
41. Put the phone away at the dinner table.
42. Never give up a chance to talk walks.
43. Hug them every day.
44. Tell them you love them even after a very hard day.
45. Save a meaningful toy from childhood.
46. Date their art projects.
47. Don’t fix their art projects so they look perfect.
48. Love them even when they seem distant.
49. See the good first.
50. Do not ever shame them. Educate.
51. Exercise grace.
52. Take time to play games.
53. Schedule your day with them in the schedule.
54. Teach them to see the little things in life.
55. Read stories with silly voices.
56. Read chapter books aloud even when they get older.
57. Learn to love what they love.
58. Don’t look down on them.
59. Don’t ever talk poorly of them.
60. Respect your teenagers. Think well of them.
61. Learn to say I’m sorry for the times when you’re wrong.
62. Make life magical when you can.
63. Take family pictures and love the ones that aren’t perfect.
64. Don’t watch their lives from the sidelines – get involved.
65. Teach them to help others and to give.
66. Keep the bar high, but not perfect.
67. Recognize where they succeed.
68. Teach them that life is about progress.
69. Teach them to look others in eye when they speak.
70. Don’t force words into them, instead let them speak.
71. Let them experience and see the world and learn to jump for their dreams.
72. Let them run.
73. Believe in their dreams.
74. Believe in their dreams AND help them achieve them.
75. Never EVER lose sight of the gift that they are in your lives.
76. On their birthday write them a note.
77. Keep pictures up in your home from when they were little.
78. Add pictures from when they get older.
79. Be thankful. Every single day.
80. Don’t ever lose perspective on the gift of being a parent.
81. Love. Love. And love.
82. Be you. You are exactly the parent they need.
Another list of blessings that we as parents can give to our kids. So often we look at the physical things as gifts, but in actuality, often it is the simple things – being present, listening, loving, and expressing our thanks that truly matters. Take some time today to step back and be grateful for the kids in your life.
What other blessings can you add to this list?
~Rachel
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.
16 comments
A lot of these blessings can be applied to husbands, as well! 🙂
Thanks for adding some warmth to my cold winter day!
I am now grandmother of 8… I look back on my life with my 4 children….I want all of you to remember this..”The Days will be long, but the Years will fly by”. Treasure every single moment with your precious children….make many memories….and love them unconditionally…Family is everything…Blessings 💝
Beautiful list!
Perfect list! Thanks.
Thank you- I needed to hear #82 today!
With having 4 boys and due any day with baby #5 I say one to add it take individual time with each on a special date time. It doesn’t always mean away from home or expensive outings but something to make them know you love them and aren’t forgetting they need you just as much as the others or youngers! Also let them take part in “date night” with you and your spouse! My kids love lighting the candles, turning out the lights, and making something special for dinner for a date night at home!
This is great.
Let them shake the glitter themselves. Sweep later.
And just wait until you get to start all over again as a Grams!
Praying in Seattle!
Psalms 32:6-7 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
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That last picture contains so many emotions. I love it. Thank you for sharing.
Was amazing watching you this morning! Didn’t want to have to leave so quickly but Frank gets into way too much trouble in my room so had to turn it off. You were a natural!
Whatever lies ahead, the Lord is with you! Always praying hard!
Psalms 32:8, 10-11 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (10-11) Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
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Let them do it themselves even though it’s going to take longer and make more of a mess.
Lovely thoughts! Thanks for being an encouragement to me!
This is lovely Rachel, particularly for Mother’s Day in NZ. My favorite is no 3 – although I love to play, I also get easily distracted.
But the days of playing aren’t going to last forever! I’m going to embrace them more. Thank you.
I love the blessing list! I want to give the list my Sunday School Kids as an idea for what blessings are! May I copy it to give out to them for part of a Sunday School Lesson, and for them to take home and share with their parents. I will put your name on it and site the document with the web address.
Hello, Danette — thank you for asking and yes, as long as you include the attribution it is totally fine. I hope that it blesses them all.
Rachel
Thank you! I want to give a copy to our parent coordinator at our schoil too, just to put up on her wall while parents are in her room! Thanks again! Dani, ah short for Danette! 🙂 God’s Blessings in you work!