http://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?nid=71&sid=22858022
It made me take a step back and evaluate how I am combating the pervasive, diva-culture in my own home. The points they highlighted included:
- Make your children earn what they recieve
- Teach them to be critical of media messages
- Be consistent with family rules
- Parental example: Evaluate your own wardrobe and personal appearance - a diva mother will raise diva children. If your priorities center around yourself rather than others (your clothes, your diet, your gym time etc) that selfishness will be reflected in your children.
- Make them work just to work. Beyond earning something, they need to be exposed to work for work's sake. Serving others in your neighborhood or community fills this need well.
- Dialogue. Talk to them about what diva-behavior you notice and are concerned about, and teach them how to evaluate their own priorities.
- Don't be afraid to be the "Mean-Mom". When my kids gripe about what others get from their parents, I say, "well I guess you were born in the wrong family, and aren't we glad."
- Use a portion of free time to teach skills like cooking, sewing, cleaning, mending (see blog header for a list).
- Raise them in an environment of faith. Religion and a belief in God helps to ground us as families and individuals and reminds us that we really are children of God and should act that way.
