Wise Advice

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.
~Anne Frank

Those of you that know me know that I am fond of sayings, witticisms, and quips.  These short but poignant statements help us explain complex concepts in a quick and easy to understand way.  When it comes to leading a school some of my favorites include:

  • Nothing builds morale like a well run school
  • We have two choices, we can be the servant or we can be the master (in regards to new initiatives)
  • Kids don’t care what you know until they know you care

When it comes to raising well-adjusted and successful kids these saying can also help get our message of persistence and resilience across.  My grandfather who was a wise old bird had what seemed like a million great (and some not so great) sayings.  These have stuck with me and make a great deal of sense now that I am a parent and educator.  Below are a couple of these sayings and then my translation.

  • Don’t cry over anything that can’t cry over you – When things aren’t going our way this saying is just the thing to snap us out of our funk.  While this was applied to material items, it can be over feeling blue about not making a grade, winning an award, or any other disappointment.
  • Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on – This is a classic.  The reason I like this saying is that it spurs us to action.  It communicates that setbacks don’t define us, but make us better.  It helps us learn from our mistakes.
  • Do you know what they call the guy who graduates at the bottom of his medical school class…? Doctor! – Now I am not suggesting that we encourage our kids to shoot for the bottom of their class, but there is a powerful message here.  There is something to be said for being persistent and not giving up, even when things aren’t going well.

This is just a small sampling of the wise guidance that Grandpa gave.  I am sure that you had/have a person in your life that helped you in a similar way.  You may even have your own short sayings and stories that you use with your children that help them get over the hump.  In my experience the best way to improve as a parent is to talk to other parents.  So, I challenge you to write your sayings and advice in the comments section below.

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3 comments on “Wise Advice
  1. barbara says:

    i particularly love this one: “Kids don’t care what you know until they know you care.”

    thank you….
    i smiled picturing your grandpa….

  2. Traci says:

    I love and use the doctor one, too. And, I use for the kids and at work, “What you see depends on where you sit.”

  3. David says:

    My father-in-law is a football coach in central IL and he uses, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future!” Love that one… It’s all about making good choices in those you choose to spend your time with.

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