While raising our three children, I had a sobering realization: the emotional well-being of these complex, fragile, precious creatures was completely in the hands of my husband and me. It’s a staggering thought that children’s future selves stem from how they experience childhood. Our responsibility as parents is enormous, terrifying, and humbling. Through the years, this thought has driven me to seek out parenting guidance from experts, fellow parents, friends, and family. Then I discovered Manadoob.
When I met Susan Cooper and June Salin and was introduced to the Manadoob Program for Self-Esteem, I found a missing link to raising children. This program empowers and equips the child in a way we all wish we were empowered and equipped. Drawing from psychology, education and the human-animal connection, the program encompasses an endless list of life components including beauty, friendship, loss, grief, happiness, change, confidence, compassion, stress, and anger. One of the things I love best about the program is that it teaches the child these three basic things:
– there is a way to handle every problem
– ways to handle problems
– to believe in yourself enough to know you can handle the problem
Although I graduated from college with a BA in English and Art and worked as an advertising copywriter for ten years, I feel I have truly found my place with Manadoob. Spending the past 22 years raising children has been the most important work I have ever done. Introducing a resource as rich as Manadoob into the lives of parents and children is beyond rewarding. I have seen how Manadoob helps a child build confidence and compassion. I have seen a child have a light bulb moment about her connection to the larger world. I have seen a child reach out to another child to share newly learned skills.
We know that children have deep feelings, uncertainty, vulnerability, and self-doubt. And that was just five minutes ago. As they discover who they truly are, navigate their young lives, and approach the challenging teen years, guiding them with Manadoob is a gift they will carry for life.
Amen sister!