\n
Today instead of reporting as a doctor of Integrative The topic for today is ‘Raising a Fulfilled Child.’ <\/span>Jijaji has 2 amazing daughters, each with a Born 5 years later, their other daughter follows the sounds Inspirational quotes and bumper stickers proclaim choosing Jijaji made me reconsider my parenting strategy through his Today instead of reporting as a doctor of Integrative Medicine, I come today in the form of a mother. As mentioned in a recent post, I was in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico just last week for an Integrative Medicine conference. There and in many times past , I have had the great fortune to be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":220,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-happy-parenting","category-mindful-medicine"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nMedicine, I come today in the form of a mother.
\n<\/span>As mentioned in a recent post, I was in beautiful Albuquerque, New
\nMexico just last week for an Integrative Medicine conference. <\/span>There and in many times past , I have had the
\ngreat fortune to be in the company of many great thinkers. <\/span>As you well know, they don’t always have fame
\nand fortune for easy identification. <\/span>One
\nnight, I was having one of those thought-changing talks with my brother-in-law
\n(affectionately called Jijaji).
\n<\/span>Outwardly, he is a health-conscious, Harvard educated physicist living a
\nsimple life, doing the things he loves, surrounded by those he loves- an honorable
\ngoal for most. <\/span>So, what did we talk
\nabout? <\/span>Don’t worry. I am not about to delve
\ninto a physics model for improving health outcomes as they relate to
\ngravitational forces in the digestive system.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\npersonality that was very apparent from the early years. <\/span>The first is the ‘free spirit,’ internally
\ndriven to move beyond the boundaries- literally. <\/span>From a very young age, she would wander away
\nand not be afraid of what was beyond the comforts of her parents’
\nsecurity. <\/span>Was this inherent in her? <\/span>Did something in her guide her to seek
\nsomething beyond the daily routine planned for a typical toddler? <\/span>Why was she happy 50 feet away from the house
\nas opposed to the protected boundaries of the gates? <\/span>Was there something in her that guided her to
\nthose happy places in her mind and then into extraordinary action. <\/span>Her parents took notice of these things, and
\neven though her actions challenged the notions they had planned for their
\ndaughter, they respected and supported the force in their daughter that took
\nher to places they were not planning to go with her. <\/span>Today, she excels in a field rarely exalted
\nby the typical professionally successful Indian parents- Creative Writing. <\/span>She is excelling in her studies (and even
\nabout to publish her work at a very young age).
\n<\/span>She talks to her parents daily, seeking their wisdom, likely sometimes
\nfollowing their advice and likely sometimes graciously not. <\/span>She is content and complete with her life choice-
\nthe purest, most unselfish wish of any parent.
\n<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
\nof a completely different rhythm. <\/span>Isn’t
\nthis the case in many households… polar-opposite children raised by the same parents? <\/span>She also excels in the field of arts but
\nfeels very committed to prioritize academics as one of her main goals in
\nchildhood- a more “straight and narrow” path of success and happiness. <\/span>Dance, tennis, violin and a competitive drive
\npush her to be “the best she can be.” <\/span>Safe
\nwith society’s and her parent’s approval, she rides this path with ease. <\/span>The course is seemingly defined and she cruises
\nalong the road remembering to signal appropriately to ensure safety. <\/span>On a poetic note, she literally was taking
\nher first safe driving class the weekend we were visiting! <\/span>As I absorbed her spirit, I was convinced she
\nwas genuinely following her path and not the path defined by her parents. <\/span>She giggled sweetly when describing her
\nexcitement about driving, but also showed her game face as she strategized the
\nconquest of “Les Miserables” for her literature class homework.<\/p>\n
\nthe right path, especially at the crucial ‘forks’ in your life. <\/span>Could it be that your path is significantly picked
\nfor you at birth- that you have a born desire that craves a certain life
\noccupation that allows you to bloom to your sweetest potential? <\/span>Perhaps, you had something pushing you in a
\ndirection all your life, but fear kept you from pursuing it. <\/span>Conversely, you may have been blessed with a
\nsupportive family, teachers and environment and you were encouraged to pursue
\nyour heart’s desire. <\/span>How many frustrated
\nadults dream to have the job that doesn’t feel like work? <\/span>Wouldn’t we all crave to go to work and feel
\neffortless joy because you just love doing what you do, day in and day out? <\/span><\/p>\n
\nlife’s example. <\/span>He showed me that it
\ntakes far more courage to follow your children’s dreams alongside them than to
\nwalk ahead of them and direct them along the path you believe is best for them. <\/span>Perhaps, truly observing, listening and
\ntracking your child’s tendencies towards happiness is the way to your child’s
\nfuture happiness. <\/span>Of course, all
\nchildren are outcomes of many factors requiring an individualized parenting
\nstrategy. <\/span>However, Jijaji’s advice is
\nuniversal. <\/span>No matter where a child is in
\nhis life path, help him connect with his<\/i>
\nsource of happiness. <\/span>Strive to seek a
\nlong term option that allows frequent tapping of this happiness and your child
\nwill be living the life of true wealth, rich with peace and meaningful
\ncontributions to society. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"