Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write and count. It is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace that is right for each individual child. Earlier is not better.

Sadness, discomfort, frustration -- they are all valid human emotions. Why would we want to suppress them?

We all need someone who understands.

A positive goal to strive for when disciplining would be to raise children we not only love, but in whose company we love being.

What parents teach is themselves, as models of what is human - by their moods, their reactions, their facial expressions and actions. These are the real things parents need to be aware of, and of how they affect their children. Allow them to know you, and it might become easier for them to learn about themselves.

The more we do, the busier we are, the less we really pay attention.

Set aside predictable, regular times to give full attention without being distracted by other concerns while also creating a safe, familiar place for baby to spend time playing alone.