Brag on your kids!

That’s right! Brag on your kids. Brag on them every chance you get. Here’s why…. the time we have with them from birth to departure from home is very limited and goes by so quickly! I can remember when our first son, Caleb, was born. So many people used to tell my wife and I, “Enjoy every moment you have with them, it’s going to go by so fast.” At the time I remember thinking yeah right. It’s going go by so slow and we all have plenty of time.

Well, here we are 20 years later and wow! They were right. The time literally flew by. I can remember playing with him with a waded up piece of paper like it was a paper football and throwing it back and forth. We sat on the floor and did this for probably 20 minutes. Every time it would hit him he would bust out laughing as if it was the first time every time. It brought so much joy to my heart and his. And now, he is heading into his sophomore year in college. The middle son, Elijah, is heading into his senior year in high school and the “baby” Causey is headed into his 8th grade year in junior high. They have all grown up so fast and time seems to be flying by at such a rapid pace. But I have enjoyed every minute of watching them grow and mature. They have become such fine young men and their mother and I are very proud of them.

So, why brag? Well, because I can reflect back to when I was their age and remember the feeling I had when my parents would tell me I was doing a good job or how proud they were of me for an achievement. I can also remember the feeling I would get when they thought I couldn’t hear them and they would brag on me in public to other people. This would give me such a sense of joy knowing that my parents would brag on me to others. And certainly not just me but my other two brothers also. It gave me a sense of confidence and pride. It let me know they not only told me I was doing a good job, but they wanted others to know too.

Parents it is important that your kids know that you love them and are proud of them. Find something to celebrate with them and something to brag on every chance you get. Your time with them is very limited. Tell them to their face they are doing a good job and tell them to their face you are proud of them and that you love them.

To this day, I tell my sons I am proud of them and I love them. I promise kids need to hear this more than you think. The world is very social media image driven and this can have a huge effect on how they view themselves and even others. So, love them, support them, and brag on them every chance you get.

They will pass it on to their kids one day. Love deeply. Lead well.

Sincerely,

Jeff Collum, Ed.D.