Monday, September 20, 2010

Coming Back...and a request.

Dear Readers,

After a short absence, I am back!  I’ve missed you and want to thank those of you who’ve hung on and continued to add great comments in my absence.  I have a pile of questions waiting for me and I’ll answer them one by one. 
           
I’m determined to keep this blog alive because, well, I love it.  I love that we are all trying together to be better parents, to love more purely and to connect more fully with our children.  That’s a big challenge, I know, and it takes all the encouragement we can get.   
             
My favorite aspect of parenting is the one I just mentioned—the forging of bonds.  As I’ve often told you, parenting for me reached a whole new level of fulfillment and excitement when I began to focus less on forced outcomes which required a rather heavy-handed approach.  The goal, instead, became the building of conscience and that happened for me as I changed my focus to loving and teaching—communicating my love while making sure that my expectations were clear and doable.
 
There are many, many methods of parenting out there.   That’s why I’m impressed that you’re still here!  This isn’t the easiest way.   Lasting results come slowly.  Grandparents raise their eyebrows.  Husbands resist.  But the thing that makes you persevere is success—small daily successes.   I want to hear about them.  I want you to be able to read one another’s success stories and be encouraged by them.  If you have a story, large or small in which a child has really responded to his/her conscience rather than force, tell us about it.  Tell us how it came about.   Send your success stories and we’ll post them here—with or without your name.  (askingjane at gmail dot com).
  
My plan is to write you a letter every Monday (we all need a little nudge forward on Mondays, right?)  and then to answer questions as I have time.  My reward will be your success stories!

I send all my love to you.  Remember Alma 36, “ by small and simple things are great things brought to pass”   I know there is nothing small or simple about your responsibilities.  But everything you are doing has meaning—every little act.   Remember that great analogy by Elder David Bednar about the little brush strokes.  They all add up to beauty--your little touches, moments of eye contact, stories read, cookies baked, laundry folded, legos picked up (again).  Your presence means security.  You are the sun—the center of their world   A lot of responsibility, I know—but a warm place to be.

Have a great week.  I’m glad to be with you again.

With Love,
Jane

21 comments:

  1. So glad you're back! And this post came on such a timely day- can't wait to hear your words of wisdom again.

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  2. Yea!! I'm glad that you are back!

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  3. I've been missing your words...can't wait for more.

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  4. I've missed you too and so glad you are back now.

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  5. Hooray for Jane's return!!! Now I can function again.

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  6. I'm so glad you are back! My SIL showed me your website in July and I devoured it, then I read "Raising a Child by Love, Not by Force" and you can't imagine how much this has helped me! I feel so much more freedom and peace about my role as a mother! Still struggling to fully change, but things are definitely getting better.
    I wasn't raised this way and am not close to my mother, but your blog is like getting the type of advice that I wish I could get from a mom and I LOVE it!
    It is such a warm place to be!
    Thanks so much for taking the time and interest in helping so many of us, you are doing such a good thing!

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  7. I was hoping you would keep this site going! I'll be sending you some questions and hopefully some success stories, too. I love that talk from Elder Bednar also.

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  8. I'm so glad you are back! I really missed your posts!

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  9. PHEW! I was near panic without this blog. :o) You're experience means so much to me as I learn to teach with love and not force. Thank you for coming back!

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  10. I've been checking back about once a week, so I'm VERY glad you're finally back!!

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  11. Welcome back!

    I cannot recall how or when I stumbled upon your blog, but it is such a treasure! I feel priviliged to be able to read your words of wisdom. Truly, I do.

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  12. yipee!! i'm so happy, you've been much missed :)

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  13. Wow. I'm overwhelmed. Thank you so much for your kind words. I've missed you too!

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  14. Dear Jane,

    Thank you so much for this wonderful blog full of advice and wisdom! A friend just sent me the link and I read through your posts for an hour straight. It feels so good to be reassured that I can't spoil my children with too much love and enjoyment with them. After reading your words I went right upstairs, plucked my baby out of her crib, and cuddled her as long as I wanted to. It felt so good.

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  15. You are a bright spot in my life. Thanks for the kind, uplifting, encouraging spirit you bring to my day! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight. Please keep it coming. :)

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  16. SOOOOOO Glad you are Back! What a relief!!!

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  17. Ahhh....so glad you are back! I have missed the boost and positive reinforcements of all I am trying to accomplish. Missed you!

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