THE PARENTING MANIFESTO PROJECT
From Marybeth Shea:
Rumer Godden wrote:
There is an Indian proverb that says everyone is a house with four rooms--a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time; yet unless we go into every room everyday, even if only to keep it aired, we are not complete persons
For my family, this translates into these questions in our house, usually before bedtime, so you can visit that room as necessary before sleeping.
Did you exercise today, even if only to walk somewhere?
Did you learn something new?
What feelings do you have today?
Tell me what made you happy, contented, proud?
Tell me what made you sad, angry, defeated, alone?
Were you grateful today, that the world surrounds you? Did you live well in the day, making a positive contribution?
For us, we name the world’s designer and pattern as God. Call us Catholic-Buddhist, if you like. At any rate, all children need the roots and wings of a code. Find one, even if God is not explicitly named in it.
As your children grow older they can take on the four-rooms check themselves. And, they can teach this to their children and others they love.
