Here’s a Momservations® classic first posted in 2009 as part of a periodic summer series of most popular blog posts (read as I’m gone camping or out of my mind right now).
Momservation: If you don’t respect yourself, why should anyone else?
I find myself saying (or maybe yelling if I’m invoking rule #4) the same things over and over to my kids. Like, “You gotta own it, Whitney!” when I want my 8 year old daughter to start taking responsibility for her actions. Or when my 9 year old son, Logan, once again doesn’t think the consequences of his actions quite through, “Just ’cause you can, doesn’t mean you should!”
Then once, I was walking behind a 6th grader at my kids’ school and I hear him tell his buddy, “Yeah, the only rule my dad has is: Respect yourself and others. That pretty much covers all other rules.” I thought that was the best rule I ever heard.
So, I decided to come up with the Clif Notes version of my expectations for my kids, just so it would be clear and I wouldn’t have to keep repeating myself (at high decibels). It’s posted on our kitchen bulleting board and now I can just yell, “Rule number 6 please!”
Without further ado:
Momservations®
Mom’s Top Ten Rules for Kids
- Respect yourself and others. This pretty much covers all other rules. But just to be clear…
- Own it. Quit throwing other people under the bus and take responsibility for your choices.
- Just ‘cause you can, doesn’t mean you should. “Seemed like a good idea at the time” should be reserved for tombstones.
- Lying only throws fuel on the fire. Mess with the fire and you’re going to get burned.
- Change is inevitable. So quit your complaining and learn to adapt.
- Don’t be a hater. Ugly attitudes don’t look good on anyone. Let it go – don’t waste energy on carrying a grudge.
- Remember the Mom Test. If you wouldn’t say it, do it, or suggest it with Mom standing next to you – think twice.
- Do no harm. Keep all hands, feet, arms, legs and other violations of space and privacy to yourself.
- Do something. Don’t just sit there – be helpful, thoughtful, considerate, generous, a friend, anything! Everyone’s got something to give.
- Enjoy the journey. It’s not the destination that counts, but how you get there. So you might as well hang on end enjoy the ride.