The Art of Teaching by Example

We unconsciously imitate the significant characters in our lives. The role of mother, father, sister, brother, and so on may be one of the roles you find yourself in right now. Our identities are complex. Words are powerful, but we strongly learn by example.

 Personal example carries a great gift because it allows you to enrich the life of your child by giving him or her what you've worked so hard to achieve. In essence, you carve the path, making it easier for your child to make healthy decisions. 

I previously wrote about teaching empathy and gratitude. Practicing these acts is teaching them to your child. As you think about the upcoming year perhaps you can set a few goals for  a nutritious diet and exercise. Beyond the typical resolutions, let's think about other ways we can teach our children. One often overlooked example is how we treat our significant other. How you treat your significant other teaches your child how to navigate their own relationships as adults. 

I'm happy to see positive instances of the art of teaching by example all around me and find it inspiring. 

Be happy, Be Healthy!

Aysha Hagene, LCPC

www.simplycounseling.com

Giving Back This Holiday Season and Beyond

Giving Back This Holiday Season and Beyond

This holiday season I'm excited about finding new ways to give back now, as well as every other day of the year. I've been thinking about the word generosity. We can be generous with our money, time, or by sharing a smile. A "please", "thank you", or simply holding a door open can make others' days a bit happier. 

We can also give back to our community by volunteering. Volunteering as a family can be a new way to spend time together. It's a great way to learn about social issues and help provide a new perspective on our world. In my last article, I mentioned emphasizing empathy as one of those strategies to ease sibling rivalry. Volunteering teaches social responsibility which can help develop a greater sense of empathy. 

Volunteer activities improves our community and your children can be part of the change. Now, that's just beautiful. I found this link helpful to locate volunteer opportunities in your area. https://volunteer.truist.com/

If you know of any great family volunteer opportunities in the Chicago area, please email me! I'd love to let others know!

Be Happy, Be Healthy!

Aysha Hagene, LCPC

www.simplycounseling.com

Ease Sibling Rivalry

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to a family about how they deal with sibling conflicts. The family wanted me to share that the brother and sister came up with a plan to grab a snack and sit on the couch to "talk it out". I think it's great that they've found their own way to a peaceful discussion. Maybe a plan like that, or your own unique ritual, will help your children manage conflicts not just now but throughout adulthood.

Their story inspired me to share a few tips to help ease sibling rivalry:

1) Have a family meeting to discuss how you are all a team. 

2) Emphasize empathy to help your child understand his/her siblings's experiences.

3) Use a reward system to reinforce positive interactions and teamwork between siblings.

Look for ways to lead by example and give positive feedback whenever possible. The more good experiences they have with one another, the better they will relate.

Be happy, be healthy!

Aysha Hagene, LCPC

www.simplycounseling.com