Our older son is very responsible while our younger is a free spirit. Two children raised in the same home, by the same parents, with two very distinct personalities.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that because our older son is so responsible, I have higher expectations for him. I have to remember to praise him for the things that come naturally to him and recognize that it should still be acknowledged. Sometimes when a child is so responsible, we only notice when he or she doesn’t do a good job. While on the other hand, a sibling who is unaware of their surroundings and who doesn’t step it up will get praised for even the smallest of accomplishments. With 2 working parents, my eldest sister did everything in our home. Cook, clean and watch the kids. She rarely received praise. My brother, on the other hand, wasn’t motivated and rarely contributed to the family, yet when he took out the trash without being asked, my parents were so excited that they wanted to reward him. I grew up realizing that I had to be aware of that.
By Mandy Ellen
{photo: flickr}
Follow us on Tweeter!
