(AB from USA/40s/Female/Housewife)
We are living in the US and have four kids.
Learn and Practice The Teachings as A Family
Two of my children are at the age of Minori and attending Minori no Tsudoi on internet webcast to learn Kami’s teachings. I used to learn separately, but I heard that it is important for parents to learn the teachings with children. So, I attended Minori no Tsudoi with my children and learned Kami’s teachings together in June. The assignment for June was “to turn in a list of good characteristics of your family.” Involving my husband and two other children, we talked about the assignment and bounced ideas off each other. It was very fun and a precious time. My children are looking forward to next month’s assignment.
Face My Children With Kami’s Teachings
I realized that when my children talked to me, I had been always lacking care and consideration saying “I’m busy. Talk to me later, okay?” However, abiding by Kami’s teachings, I have recently been trying to stop what I was doing and listen to them carefully when they talked to me. Doing so, they started to feel “I’m listened and cared,” and 18-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter started to come out from their own room; we sit together at the living room and talk a lot. Facing my children with kami’s teachings naturally increased family conversation and created family with full of happiness.
I experienced that when parents strive to change themselves in a good way, children sense it right away and give back to us – our actions reflect right back like a mirror image. I would like to keep learning the teachings and communicate with my husband and children with warm and deep heart to create a family in harmony.