Raising Role Models
by Amanda van der Gulik

Are you raising a good role model?

Are you a good role model?

Don't be too hard on yourself, I would bet you are a much better role model to your child than you give yourself credit for!

We love our children and want to do the best we can for them but we are ALWAYS second guessing ourselves...but we really don't have to!

Recently I did a special case study on a truly amazing family, who are indeed amazing role models, not just for their own kiddos but for all of us.

You can read all about them on my blog here:
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/blog/2430/meet-the-mintz-family-raising-amazing-role-models/?rid=2011

One thing that really stuck out to me about them was that they weren't "trying" to be good role models, they just "were" good role models.

As you read the article on my blog you will start to see what I mean.

Anna and David Mintz were just two regular, everyday people, who happened to meet in a rather unique and interesting...fated...way! They realized their love for each other and have been together ever since.

They have three wonderful children, Keith, Jordan and Tanya, who are all just "being themselves" and by being such, actually being tremendous role models to us all. We all have a deep desire to raise our children to be successful in life. We want them to learn from our own experiences and mistakes and have a sort of special "insight to life" to help them to jump start their own in a way that they will be sure to be happy and self-sufficient.

That's our goal right?
To raise independent young adults who learned to swim before they were thrown in the deep end.

And that's what Anna and David are doing with their kids. They started teaching their children about life, success, and giving from a very young age.

Although it may be important to teach our kiddos as young as possible, you don't need to worry if you're just starting now. The fact that you're even here, reading this article, means that you truly care about your child and want to be a good role model and make a positive difference in their life.

And you already are!


Like I said before, it's pretty hard for you NOT to be a good role model already. Let's take a look:

1. First of all you are reading this post, which means you went out of your way to read it. That shows that you are dedicated to empowering your child.

2. Secondly, you are actually empowering yourself by reading this post! Did you know that? It's true. By being here, right now,  you are showing me that you are someone who is willing to learn. Someone who is malleable. Teachable. And THAT is role modeling for your child!

We are so hard on ourselves. Most of the stress in our lives, is not actually from the things that happen to us, but from our reactions to those things. Bad things happen. Absolutely! But it's how we react to them that's the important part. And HOW we react is HOW we model to our kids how THEY should react!

And YES we can do MORE for sure!


So what kind of more?

Well, now that you know that you are actually already doing a great job. Now, that you are more relaxed and happy with yourself and your efforts so far...NOW you can allow MORE into your role modeling.

Don't try to do too many things at once. Start with just the following two so you're not overwhelming yourself. Then once you can the hang of those, you can add more to your plate.

1. Teach some simple money skills: Let your child pay for the groceries (with your money, so they can see what a grown up daily transaction looks like), get a piggy bank started and allow them to do some extra chores around the home to earn some of their own money to put in it.

2. Teach them to give to others in need. We have had some incredibly awful natural disasters recently and you can use these to teach your child the power of giving to charity. Helping others will be one of the best life lessons you will ever teach your child. It will teach them an abundance and loving mentality.

Start small. Be kind to yourself. Trust that you are already a good role model. Then take a look at some other incredible family's to get motivated and inspired to grow and learn even more.

The Mintz family are an incredible example of this. See what they have been doing and take one or two of their examples for you to use in your own role modeling.

Read all about the Mintz family here:
(You'll also get to have a sneak peek at some of their kids' videos too!)
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/blog/2430/meet-the-mintz-family-raising-amazing-role-models/?rid=2011

Cheers…Amanda van der Gulik…Excited Life Enthusiast! ;o)

P.S.  Remember to be kind to yourself, you are setting an amazing example to your child already. You are here, reading this article and that means that you care about your child's future. Start with that. Then take a look at what the Mintz family do to be great role models for their kids and for all of us here: 
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/blog/2430/meet-the-mintz-family-raising-amazing-role-models/?rid=2011

Amanda uses story-telling to teach children and teens the fundamentals of cash so your kid will learn these in a fun and memorable way, without feeling like they're being TOLD what to do! Amanda has been a special guest on Radio Disney, featured in The Costco Connections Magazine both in Canada and the USA and on numerous parenting shows around the globe. For a short time, Amanda is giving away
7 FREE Gifts, including "50 Money Making Ideas for Children and Teens" and "Allowance Secrets: To Give or Not to Give?"
Visit www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com, to grab your free gifts before they go away!

Save