Dear friends:

I would like to share with you a piece of anonymous writing from a poster that I bought decades ago when my children were toddlers.  The poster is fading in color and some of the words are hardly visible.  I decided to type it up since I don't want to lose these wonderful reminders.  As I read through these sentences,  I find them to be gems of wisdom—not only for nurturing children—but even for our daily interaction with others.  I hope you'll enjoy it and get a few reminders or new realizations to apply in your everyday life.

May you be well,
Lilian

Fun                       Take time to laugh and play and share the wonders of life with me.

Affection               Warm hugs will nurture me and make this world a much friendlier place.

Acceptance          Appreciate me for the individual I am, with all my unique gifts and special talents.

Respect                 Treat me like an important and valuable person, and I’ll learn to respect and honor myself and                                                        others.

Praise                   Tell me all the things you appreciate about me so I’ll know how wonderful I really am.

Security                Give me boundaries that will allow me to grow safely, feel secure, and overcome my fears.

Honesty                Share your real feelings and admit your mistakes to me, so I’ll learn what it means to be a whole                                                     person.

Patience               Be understanding when I make my own mistakes, and remember – even when it doesn’t seem like                                               it, I’m trying my best.

Forgiveness        Remind me that nobody is perfect, and that it feels much better to forgive than to hold a grudge.

Encouragement   Support me and be positive as I try new things, and I’ll have the courage to keep exploring.

Openness               Listen to me, and be open to what you may be able to learn from me.

Love                         If you care for me in all these ways, you will be giving me the best life has to offer.

A special thanks to Flickr user @Doug88888 for sharing this photo.