The Privilege to Love

I dedicate these lines to my best teachers:

My children…

Children are a precious gift from God!

Therefore, I commit to giving the best of myself to provide them a better future. It is a privilege and honor to be a father. Without doubt,  a family is the best inheritance a  human being can have. I have been very fortunate   to have received the best     inheritance from my      parents:  A healthy education based on values.   From my parents  I learned that in life there  exists a prioritized order: 

1. God

2. Family, and

3. Work   

They also taught me that if we alter these priorities, we are overcome by chaos. If we place work above family, we become robots—money making machines—and we do  not enjoy the presence of our children, nor the joy of family life.

Undoubtedly, our children are our best teachers.  I have been privileged in this area as well by having had the opportunity to be a        father four times.  Being a parent has permitted me to have my best teachers with me and to permanently put into practice all I have     inherited from my parents.

I have worked with families during the past 15 years. 

During the last three years  I have experienced the anguish and joys, and the sorrows and triumph,s that  immigrants coming to this country experience in their search for the “American Dream.”

For them and for all those who hope for a better      future, I share a reflection which will appear in my forthcoming publication, “Camino de Luz,” Path of Light, which refers to 10 steps to becoming a better parent and raising our   children’s self-esteem:

1)      Respect the mother of your children:  When children experience  mutual respect between their parents, they have a higher probability of feeling accepted and respected.

2)      Spend time with your children: Children grow up rapidly. Lost opportunities are lost forever.

3)      Earn the right to be listened to: Take  time to listen to your       children’s ideas and problems.

4)      Discipline with love: Parents who discipline in a calm and fair manner demonstrate love for their children.

5)      Set a good example: Parents can teach their children what is important by demonstrating honesty, humility, and responsibility.

6)      Be a teacher: Parents who are actively in- volved in their children’s lives use every day    examples to help their children learn life’s    basic lessons.

7)      Eat as a family:  This is also a good time for  parents to listen to their children and to give them advice.

8)      Read to your children: Instilling the love of   reading in your children gives them the opportunity to grow personally and     professionally in life

9)      Be affectionate: Showing affection on a daily basis tells your children you love them.

10)   Accept that the job of being a parent is never finished:      Parents  continue playing an    important role in their children’s growth and  in the development of their  families.