The Words Kids Need to Hear

Written by Jeff King, principal

“I cherish you.” “I believe in you.” “You can count on me.”

Growing up, my mom and dad took tremendous care of me, showered me with love and affection, and always let me know how much they cherished me, cared for me, and loved me.

I remember when I took my first ride on a bike without training wheels my mom and dad said, “You can do it, Jeff!” This statement showed that they believed in me and in my ability to ride a bike without additional help. Through practice, a few bumps and bruises, and their belief in me I, to this day, can ride my bike without training wheels.

During the tough times growing up, my mom and dad would always say to me, “Hey, if you want to talk to us about anything, we’re here.” These words of support and comfort reminded me… “I could count on them.”

Throughout my life, Connie (mom) and Mike (dad), have shown their support for me by attending the sports I played when I was younger, the sports I coached when I was older, and the various functions I participate and lead today as principal at Myers Elementary School. This continuous support demonstrates clearly to me that “They cherish me.”

Life gives us tremendous challenges ~ sometimes more than we think we can handle. Life can even cause us to doubt ourselves. It is during these challenges that we, as adults, can embrace memories of when our parents, friends, or other significant people in our life showed or told us, “I cherish you. I believe in you. You can count on me.”

With summer vacation here, take time to play board games, go for a walk, enjoy a day at the park and simply spend some quality time with your children. When you do things like this with them you clearly show your children, “We cherish you.”

When your child is faced with worries about next school year, or not confident about an upcoming baseball game or dance recital in which they are participating, your words of encouragement say to them, “We believe in you.”

As your children grow up, and they are met with disappointment from friends, peers or neighbors, you being there with a shoulder to cry on and with two arms to hug them they know without a doubt that you are dependable. Being there for your children shows them “They can count on us!”

If our kids hear these words or see these words in action at home, at school, on the athletic field, at church, and in society, they will grow to be strong, confident, caring, and dependable adults that will cherish these words forever.

Our children are our future! Our children, regardless of their age, need to know they are cherished, they are cared for, and they have us to count on. To this day, it warms my heart to know that my mom and dad cherish me, believe in me, and are there for me.

Take time today and everyday to say the words our kids need to hear.