Monday, February 10, 2014

The most awesome thing I've been apart off: Through a Child's Ears

I am SO beyond excited and thrilled to finally be introducing something that a friend and I have been working on for months. It is a campaign and website to promote speaking kindly to children called Through a Child's Ears. And it's SUCH an awesome cause.


As moms, we found ourselves telling our kids to be patient and use nice words, but were often quick to lose our temper. It seemed like a huge paradox; we were not practicing what we preached. We also saw this when we were out doing day to day things; that it is sadly so much easier to dismiss speaking poorly to children then it is to an adult. It really breaks my heart when in a moment of anger of frustration, I misuse my role as a parent and become someone who demeans or frightens my children in order to try and change behavior and it breaks my heart when I see it happing to other children.

I looked around and did research to see if an organization or group existed that promoted adults speaking kindly to children and I couldn't find one. I know right? It seems like such an important issue and yet I couldn't find anything. So I decided to do something about it.

We have created a campaign to promote speaking kindly to children. It really is SO easy in a moment of frustration to say something we don't mean, use words that hurt, or to use a tone of anger rather than instruction and our reason for this campaign is simply to help all of us who interact with children in big or small ways, to remember that the way we speak matters. So to do this we've created a website and a pledge that you can take and then print, just to be a reminder to think before we react and to remember that children believe what they hear and the we need to help them believe they are GOOD. It's so simple. But I really believe this has the opportunity to bless a lot of children's and families lives.
On a more personal note, I really can't express enough how much this means to me. This is not just a 6 month "cause" or project. I want this to get as big as possible and reach as many people as it can because I really believe that so many issues, like low self-esteem, bullying, problems at home, could be mitigated by simply making an effort to think before we respond. I had a full on mini panic attack before launching all this last night because I was, and still kind of am, so afraid of no one caring. And I really believe this is something we have to make and effort to care about and work on.

But, my gosh, that's so hard. In no way to I want to come across as being the mega mom who always talks kindly. I'm not. My 3 year old is wearing me down to the ground the past few weeks and I've lost my cool. Many times. But I am trying. And we're learning with our 3 yr old how much he would shuts down when we get angry and on the flip side how much better he acts and communicates when we speak patiently with him.

Whether you are a parent or not, chances are you have some interaction with children or know someone who does. PLEASE come take the pledge and share it with your friends and family. We are going to be pumping this message out as much as we can because we believe so strongly in the power of nice words and uplifting rather than bringing down, even in moments of discipline or teaching.

Please, please, please, check us out on our website with the link below, find us on FB with Through a Child's Ears, and also on Pinterest and Instagram with Through a Child's Ears!

Now go take the pledge and spread the word!! Please. :)


 

Through a Child's Ear on 






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6 comments:

  1. This has already helped me to remember to keep my cool several times in the last week. I love it. ANd please let me know if you need any help with this campaign.

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  2. What a great cause. And you are so right. As a school counselor, I talk to kids all the time who are so hurt by something an adult said to them. Half the time I think the adult probably didn't even realize what they said mattered.

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I really appreciate all of your thoughts and comments! They bring a smile to my face!