P is for… Perseverance!
When it comes to multilingual parenting, perseverance shouldn’t be about sticking with something that we dislike. It has nothing to do with an overarching work ethic that has been placed on our shoulders.
It is also not about inflexibility. It is not about making everyone tow your line no matter what.
Perseverance is softer and gentler than that. It is about accepting that there will be hard days, that we will feel discouraged along the way, that we may not have the kind and amount of help that we want or need, but we continue anyway. It is the daily decision to stick with it, even in the face of discouragement.
Perseverance is about learning to identify what causes us to lose heart and then to face it head-on. Once we know these things about ourselves, we can catch them before they cause us to stumble and become frustrated or decide to throw in the towel. It gives us the chance to become more aware of who we are and it helps us keep things in perspective.
Perseverance is about learning to focus on the positive. It is about remembering the feelings of satisfaction and joy that come when things are going smoothly, and to realize that those feelings will come again.
Perseverance is recognizing that we, by choice, have taken on a challenging task. It is about embracing this challenge fully and with an open heart and open arms. Often the challenge is what gives us meaning and purpose in life.
Yes, the road is muddy and the journey is slow today. But wouldn’t you rather be out in the fresh air on your multilingual parenting journey than on the sofa with a box of chocolates watching the latest sitcom? Of course you would!
Just remember to take the box of chocolates with you for those times when the journey gets tough.
We are going through the alphabet one letter at a time, multilingual-style! Join in the fun and add your own ideas, suggestions and tips in the comments below that begin with today’s letter! Check out all of the ABC’s of Multilingual Parenting posts so far!
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I NEEDED THIS.