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Curiosity Spirited children often are perceptive. “Their senses are keen, drawing in every aspect of stimulation around them,” Kurcinka says. And this quality helps them to think creatively. In my daughter’s case, perceptiveness led to curiosity, which meant she got into everything when she was younger. Today she is always interested in how
My daughter is the most determined person I have ever met. things work and asks lots of questions or, as with learning to play the piano, works to figure something out on her own. Seeing her pursue new things has motivated me to try activities I might normally never consider. I’m a shy person who doesn’t willingly take risks, but when I see my daughter attempting something like climbing a rock wall, I can’t help but feel inspired to take leaps in my own life, too. Patience When you are the parent of a spirited child, temper tantrums are the norm. They are so common, Kurcinka devotes an entire chapter to them, stating, “all kids throw tantrums, but spirited children do it with much more pizzazz, finesse and frequency.” Over the years, I learned to respond to my daughter’s tantrums with patience and understanding. And, as a result, the number of them decreased. Cultivating patience has helped me parent not only my daughter, but my other children as well, and has positively affected other areas of my life, such as when www.sonomafamilylife.com
I’m waiting for a customer service representative to take my call. Empathy “Sensitive spirited kids feel emotions, see sights, hear sounds, and smell odors to a degree that most of us mortals will never know,” Kurcinka notes.
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For my daughter, these sensitivities have translated into a lot of crying, especially when she was younger. The upside is that they make it easier for her to empathize with others’ feelings. She enjoys helping others and making them feel special. On Mother’s Day, she always showers me with various homemade gifts, baked goods, and breakfast in bed. Her fifth grade teacher told me that at the end of every day my daughter makes a point to say thank you. She said in her 15 years of being a teacher, she never encountered a student who did this, yet this simple act made her feel appreciated. For me, my daughter’s sensitivities encouraged me to develop a greater sense of empathy for her feelings and needs. I can see when she is feeling overwhelmed or over-stimulated and respond accordingly. Loving the Spirit Even though being the parent of a spirited child can be challenging, I have loved every moment of it (and not just because she is my girl). My daughter has helped me to accomplish my goals, try new experiences, and most importantly, empathize with and appreciate others. ¶ This article was originally published at Parent.co. Find Cheryl Maguire on Twitter @ CherylMaguire05.
September 2017
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