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Boost Your Relationship IQ
Cherish Your Loved Ones By Lisa Marie Metzler
Debbie Milam, a Weston, Fla. mom and author of Lunchboxes of Love: Reusable Love Notes for Your Children (Unlimited Inspiration), believes parents are the greatest models. "If as parents we cherish our children, they will learn how to cherish others," she says.
Milam conveys that she cherishes her children by placing love notes in their lunch boxes and having pleasant conversation during dinnertime.
"The dinner table is a wonderful time to nurture your children," she says. Ask specific questions of your children about their interests. Tell them how much you appreciate their kindness toward other people. Tell them how precious and valued they are to you and the whole family. Once a week, make your child's favorite meal or dessert. Praise him in front of other people and watch him beam ear to ear.
But probably one of the best ways to show your child that you treasure her is by spending one-on-one time. All children crave individual time with their parents. Aim for once a month to have this "date night" with your child. Make sure all the attention is geared toward him. Do an activity that appeals just to him. Linger over her favorite books in the bookstore. Or take him to a favorite exhibit at the museum he has been begging to see.
What can you expect when you cherish your child? "When children feel cherished, they have a better sense of themselves and are able to see that they can make a difference in this world," says Luke. "They are able to connect with people on a deeper level."
The benefits of cherishing are too great to miss: Cherishing has a tidy dividend. When you express adoration and appreciation to another person, it will not only bring delight to their soul, but to your own as well.
