"like Chinese bamboo"

I was reading the first bit of the seven habits of highly effective families, when a comparison caught my eye. I'd like to reinvent this for you.

When you begin to raise your child from the first breath they take your planting that seed. Your watering it (over, under, just enough) weeding it(or not), and giving it light (or clouds). Every choice you make is impacting where that plant will grow, how big, strong, how resilient it is to change and extreme conditions, and how much it effects it's world around it (giving shade, food)

If you think back to your childhood, do you remember a tree or plant that made an impact??? A favorite hiding spot, the best smell??? Well, I want that for my child. I want my kids to touch others and make a lasting great impression on this world.

This brings me to the Chinese bamboo. It grows for four years underground. No one sees anything but a small sprout, but there are great works. It's burrowing under the earth creating it's foundation, and it's creating it's own barrier against other plants (morals). Then, on the fifth year that sprout shoots up 80 feet. In one year it gives enough bamboo to build a small water system, or a side of a home. It does great things!

Kids are like Chinese bamboo. Don't expect them to be amazing right away. It takes time to have a disciplined home, and a self disciplined child. I can promise you that that fifth year will come, if you nurture your Childs needs, give them every chance to grow and learn, and give them consistency.

:)