A couple weeks ago we were eating out at a local restaurant, it is a quaint seafood place, it is quiet, and that night we had the only children in the restaurant for quite a while. Our two year old had to go potty (as all kids do in a new place, at least ten times), on her first trip to the restroom, she was very proud of herself. As she and I walked back into the dining room, she walked quickly through the dining and not-so quietly proclaimed "YAY! I WENT POTTY PAPA!!!!!" Papa is my dad, and he and the rest of the family were sitting all the way across the dining room. As we walked people at other tables celebrated with her and congratulated her.
Our daughter was so proud of herself, and she proclaimed her pride for all to hear! How do you celebrate things your children accomplish? Growing up, we were celebrated with eating out for dinner or maybe going out for dessert when we accomplished something. No matter big or small there was a celebration and usually a gift of some sort to go along with it. My husband and I have adopted that tradition as our own, as our children are accomplishing more and more things.
Last year, at the end of the school year we had an "end of the school year" celebration at Chick-Fil-A with some of the cousins. I bought all the kids books and we just hung and out and celebrated the beginning of summer/end of school year. When our oldest son comes home with all good marks on his behavior calendar at school we go out to a restaurant of his choice. When we just don't have time to spend a couple hours out, I will make the child's favorite dessert or buy them a special toy.
Our youngest son just graduated preschool, which is absolutely crazy..where is the time going? We didn't have time to do a special celebration but he got a special dessert at home and the day of his graduation was all about him. Celebrating your children's accomplishments is so important. Little or big. Expensive or frugal. Celebrate the accomplishments. Let your child know what they do is important. Allow them to broadcast their pride, just as our two year old did....and let others celebrate with them!
