Amanda Berry Spotlights Video On Dreams & Why Parents Should Live Theirs
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Not long ago, I thought my life was over. My husband was in an accident and I was already a disabled person. I wondered how I would take care of my sons. I thought I’d never be happy again. For months I went through rehabilitation with the only thing keeping me holding on was the thought that my kids had no one else but me. Some days I was angry. Some days I was depressed; but, then I wondered what would happen to them if something happened to me. It took every bit of strength I had to recover. I still have issues which added to my disability. I can’t stand for long periods of time along with many other issues and this hinders my ability to work.
About 8 months ago the light bulb came on and I wondered “what are you teaching your children?” I began to realize even though I was living, I was just existing and that was teaching them to give up in the face of adversity. I just didn’t want that for my kids. So slowly, I began doing things I enjoy around my limitations. Almost instantaneously, my oldest son went from just wanting to finish school to wanting to do more. He went from being average to trying harder to be great. I watched in awe as my behaviors and actions changed how it reflected in my kids emotional growth. I began seeing they were holding themselves back just so they could be there for me and it was my job to be there for them!
I always wanted to be a paralegal and never go the chance to do it because life got in the way. I took the career path that was easiest because I got married and had kids. I said I’d do it later. I said I’d do it when the kids got older or my husband made more money. Then on that day…that one day my life took a turn with no input from me. It simply changed in an instant and I allowed myself to just give up on any dreams I had. I now realize that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. The impact it had on my kids now that I look at it retrospect was tremendous. We just don’t realize until we really sit down and look at our kids behaviors and listen…..really listen to them how much they watch us.
When I decided to make a change, I explored how I could go to school online. Because of my condition going to school was not an option. I found classes and am working on my own dreams now. I even got in touch with a firm that could give me part time work when I’m finished. It’s not a full-time job because honestly I couldn’t handle that, but it is a start. It is a new beginning. It is the path to living my own dream and showing my kids that no matter what you can adjust to your circumstances and live it anyway.
I encourage parents to watch the video and think about their own dreams. What have you given up? What have you let get in the way? Think about how this impacts your kids both now and in the long run. They are watching you! They watch everything you do and your behaviors end up being built into their psyche whether you realize it or not. It’s funny how some things we think are cliche’ are true in life. “For every action there is a reaction” and that is true with your kids. Every move you make they react either on the surface, or subconsciously. Live your dreams and let your kids see it so they can live theirs.
The post Teaching Kids to Live Their Dreams By Seeing Yours appeared first on The Good Men Project.
