Our Goal through our “Positive Parenting” articles is to offer “Tips & Reminders” to help Parents keep Children on track; when necessary; provide assistance to help a struggling Teen or Young Adult get back on track, and at times offer insights into the unique challenges of Teens and Youth Adults.. “Positive Parenting Tips & Reminders” by Eagle Ranch Academy.
A Smile a Day
How many of us remember that old saying, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” So I wonder what “a smile a day” does for us as parents.
So what is a smile? It’s usually a simple facial expression. It’s formed by flexing our facial muscles at the end of our mouth.
Typically we associate a smile with happiness, pleasure, joy, or amusement. But there is also the “grimace.” The almost smile or the fake smile used when we are maybe having anxiety, unsure, or confused. Then there is the “snarl.” This is the smile or showing of the teeth in a lot of the animal world. This is often associated with showing dominance, warning of danger, angry, or a threat. As a parent, how do you smile or come across to your child when talking to them?
Do you remember as a child when your parents smiled at you? The warmth and glow they had. Do you remember how it made you feel? You probably felt like you could accomplish anything and conquer the world…you felt special and loved. Are you passing that down to your kids?
As a parent, I smile, just thinking about my kids. I smile when I am with them even more. As a parent, do you show a genuine smile, hug your child often, and praise them for all the good, little things they do. If you are not doing it, I encourage you to start a new trend in your life. If you do this, you have the potential for a better turnout in the long run. Like another old saying, “It’s easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar.”
Smiling Success
For many years the conventional wisdom has been that people are happy because they are successful. But additional researchers, who analyzed 225 studies involving 275,000 people, found the truth might be just the opposite that people are successful because they are happy. Happy people are easier to work with, more highly motivated, and more willing to tackle challenging projects. Thus they are more likely to be successful, found a 2005 study published by the American Psychological Association (“Smile For Success,” December 21, 2005, ABC News).
Another article you may want to read, It is found on About.com by Mark Stibich, PhD. The article lists the “Top 10 Reasons to Smile”.
For more information, I encourage you to read the whole article, but here is the top 10 reasons to smile:
- Smiling makes us attractive
- Changes our mood
- It’s contagious
- Relieves our stress
- Boosts your Immune system
- Lowers your blood pressure
- Releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin
- Lifts the face and makes you look younger
- Makes you seem successful
- Helps you stay positive
Some other words of wisdom to help inspire you parents are the following quotes:
“Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” Abraham Lincoln
“If you’re not using your smile, you’re like a man with a million dollars in the bank and no checkbook.” Les Giblin
“Smile and the world smiles with you, Frown and you frown alone.” Quote ERA believes
“We have so much to smile about, be happy about, yes, even to laugh about. Yet, often many of us wait to show our smile. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Don’t wait for the right job, the right house, the right salary, the right dress size. Be happy today. Be happy now.” Joseph B. Wirthlin
“Positive Parenting Tips & Reminders:” In closing, I encourage parents to stay positive, share a smile at home with your spouse/partner & kids, share a smile with neighbors, coworkers, and all the strangers you come into contact with each day in life that smile might just have saved a life or changed the world.
You are the Expert on Your Child
Are you perfect? No. Do you make mistakes? Yes. Can you learn something today that will help you be a more effective Parent? Absolutely!
Hold them close, but don’t smother them. Love them, but don’t enable them. And, keep it simple with the basic, but sound rules that you enforce consistently. Take care, and use “Positive Parenting!”