Houseplants and Parenting
What do houseplants have to do with parenting?
Children are much like developing plants. They need sunlight, water, food, and tender loving care.
I recently read an article by Elder Boyd K. Packer that made me think about a house plant I once struggled with.
I received a beautiful peace lily when my father passed away. It had large healthy leaves and three white flowers.
After a couple of weeks, the leaves began to turn brown. I thought that maybe it needed more water so I began to water it every day. Soon the water was pooling at the top and the plant looked even worse. I decided to stop watering it and only watered it once every couple of weeks. Well, that left it looking droopy and wilted.
Finally, I found some information online that instructed me on how to find out if the plant was ready for watering. Once I was able to determine what the soil would feel like and what the leaves could tell me, I learned to water it when it would help the most. My peace lily soon returned to health in all its beauty!
Similar to the peace lily, parents need to look for the most valuable times to teach their children.
"If teaching is to be effective, it must capitalize on the readiness of the students to learn." ~Elder Boyd K. Packer
Looking back in my life, I didn’t learn something because someone told me it was true. I learned the most because I had a personal struggle with something. I then took that struggle to someone I trusted (sometimes my parents) and had a meaningful conversation with them. I was then able to move forward with the new knowledge they provided. As I implemented the insight into my life, I learned the depth of its truth.
I was READY to learn and therefore gained the most from the lesson.
I encourage you to think about your child and ask yourself how you can be aware of the most effective time to teach them.
Do you have an example of this to share? Comment below! ~Piano Gal Val
References:
Packer, B.
K. (1977, December). Ready or Not, You Will Be Taught. Liahona. Retrieved from
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/1977/12/ready-or-not-you-will-be-taught?lang=eng
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