Want Kids to Just Be Themselves? Then You Have to Do This... by Annie Burnside

We as parents place so much effort and energy into offering our children all kinds of extracurricular opportunities. And much of it is worthwhile and beneficial. However, after having been a parent of three for 15 years now, I have come to believe that my greatest efforts with my children should be spent letting them know that it is OK to be simply themselves.

So once a day, cup your hands around your children's cheeks, look them in the eye and declare out loud, "I give you permission to be fully yourself. I LOVE you just the way you are!"

Then model it in your actions, too.