Spiritual Parenting – I Can’t Mummy!
May 2, 2009 by Riya Agnihotri
Filed under Spiritual Parenting
I Can’t !
I am sure you have all heard the saying: “there is no such thing as can’t”. Parents often try to
encourage reluctant children with this old adage.
It is very scary how quickly and easily this four letter word creeps in to our vocabularies, perhaps as
young as three years old! My son (who is nearly four and half) uses the word at least four or five times
every day.
Instead of ignoring it and ‘helping’ him I have started to regularly question his use of the word.
It is a highly debilitating word. Say it aloud – you can actually ‘feel’ a block.
By saying ‘can’t’ your mind closes to any possibility of success.
Do you suddenly feel as though there is no point in continuing with the activity you were trying?
That is how a child feels – and that is where the barriers in life start. This is when a child’s self
esteem takes a nose dive.
Can’t is a word continually used by parents on frantic mornings or by teachers during pressure filled
lessons. It is a word that enters our vocabularies early and never leaves.
I believe that it is responsible for crushed dreams – and worse - dreams never made.
Next Post: Tips for eradicating negative language from your everyday interactions with your children. A must for Self Esteem.
I kneel down and say ‘look at me. do you trust me? do you think i’d ever let you do this if i thought you would fall or fail?’ and then she tries again and she cracks it.