Page 34 - Tracy Anderson Magazine - Fall 2021

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.”
Preserve the Gift
It can be difficult for parents to not dictate their beliefs to
“IT TAKES A SECURE their children because they usually see teaching as synon-
ymous with transferring their own views. Perhaps it’s best
PARENT TO not to think of educating our children in terms of teaching
because it brings to mind memories of strict schoolteach-
UNDERSTAND THAT ers or even our own parents doling out information that’s
EVEN THOUGH to be accepted without question. It’s only natural that with
such images in mind we would operate in the same way
CHILDREN MAY when teaching our children.

NOT SUBSCRIBE TO So, in educating children, maybe it’s best not to think in
YOUR PARTICULAR terms of teaching specific things but guiding in particular di-
rections. When we guide them toward love, understanding,
PHILOSOPHY, THEY and cooperation, the things they choose to do, say, or be-
lieve will be the right ones.
ARE ON THE RIGHT
PATH, SO LONG AS Children are born with natural virtues. Our job as con-
scious parents is to nurture and grow them through educa-
IT’S THE ONE THEY tion, not replace them with rigidity. Children already treat
HAVE CHOSEN FOR everyone with the same kindness and respect, regardless
of their politics, religion, or sexual orientation. It’s our job
THEMSELVES AND to preserve that gift for them until the world’s attempt to
pull them in one of its polarizing directions has no effect.
BENEFITS OTHERS.” It takes a secure parent to understand that even though
children may not subscribe to your particular philosophy,
they are on the right path, so long as it’s the one they have
chosen for themselves and benefits others.

So is it important that your children disagree with you polit-
to school every day as a better version of themselves and principles to new situations in a more mature way. One day, Timeless Advice ically when they’re educated, law-abiding, and well-adjusted
not be drawn into the polarizing effect of school cliques in response to how he was wise, my son, now a teenager, In his book, The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran spoke beautifully people contributing to the world? Raising self-realized chil-
or the assumption that there are only winners and losers. replied, “Everyone was on TikTok watching something in- about the importance of raising children and not clones dren can only happen when we explore and heal our own
These were some of their answers: appropriate, but I chose not to do it because I didn’t want nearly 100 years ago. His words are as beautiful as his ad- insecurities and unresolved emotional issues that drive us to
my mind to go that way.” vice is timeless. use our children to reinforce our own beliefs. Real learning
How were you wise today? only happens when we take our ego out of education. ■
“I ate more green vegetables at lunch.” As they grow up, my children are like most other children in “Your children are not your children.
a lot of ways. They certainly make their share of mistakes, They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. Dr. Sherry Sami’s practice is based on “total body wellness,” a
How were you courageous today? but when I get responses like those, it reassures me that They come through you, but not from you. philosophy that recognizes the synergistic connection our emotions
“I saw some kids teasing a boy from a lower class and I said, they can already make better choices in each situation be- And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. and thoughts play in our physical condition. As a Columbia Uni-
‘That’s not okay’ to them.” cause their father and I focused on cultivating the broader versity graduate and dual specialist in pediatric dentistry and
concepts that actually make life better, like love, compas- Tina Nord, courtesy pexels.com You may give them your love, but not your thoughts. orthodontics, as well as a master in spiritual psychology, Dr. Sami
How were you compassionate today? sion, empathy, understanding, generosity, and of course, For they have their own thoughts. understands that learning and healing only happen when we are
“I sat with a little girl who was crying because she missed gratitude. Children won’t learn what happiness is until You may house their bodies, but not their souls. seen, heard, inspired, and loved. To learn more from Dr. Sami,
her mom.” they’re content with what they have now. Gratitude teaches you can follow her on Instagram at @drsherrysami or listen to her
As they get older, I can see my children applying those same children to pay attention to their lives. on the goop podcast.

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