There’s a song I sing to BoyWonder as I’m nursing him down at night that goes like this:
My home is the home of peace.
My home is the home of joy and delight.
My home is the home of laughter and exaltation.
Whosoever enters through the portals of this home must go out with gladsome heart.
It’s actually a quote by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that someone put to music, and it’s lovely, both in its melody and its message. I’ve been using it almost a mantra lately. This vision of a home filled with peace and joy and delight and laughter is so attractive. And we do have that, some of the time. Naturally, there are going to be conflicts and tantrums and such, but we’re working hard to keep this vision even during those rough moments.
Javad’s been reading the first section of “The Family Virtues Guide,” which gives a wonderful summary of positive, spiritual parenting. I read it some years ago, and it’s time for me to refresh my memory as well. But one thing that stuck with me from it is our four main roles as parents:
– Educator (recognizing teachable moments)
– Authority (setting clear boundaries/establishing rules and routines)
– Guide (honoring a child’s spirit)
– Counselor (offering the art of spiritual companioning)
I just love the descriptions Linda Kavelin Popov gives of these different facets of parenting. There are so many different voices on parenting, but what I love about her is that she really goes to the heart of helping your children bring out the best in themselves through the language of the virtues. I’m sure I’ll write more as I read through the book again. I remember how inspired I felt reading it the last time. Highly recommend it – “The Family Virtues Guide:” by Linda Kavelin Popov. She’s a Bahá’í, but the book is not specifically Bahá’í in nature. She actually begins each chapter of the different virtues with a quote from a major world religion. Good stuff.
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Comments 1
It was good to read those lines above. But, I doubt they are Abdu’l-Baha’s exact Words; as they have been written down by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab from the oral Utterances of the Master.