My Child My Valentine

Dearest Darling Wow Parents,
Here we are with an innovative idea. But before we move to the idea part, let me explain the WHY behind the idea.
Maximum amount of literature written by management experts, is around Motivation and Leadership – Parents need to be experts in both.
Many of us know how to create short term motivation through gifts, appreciation etc. The missing link is, long term motivation.
What creates long term motivation? Can it be implemented by simple people without corporate training exposure?
The answer is YES. Not just a YES, but a delightful YES.
This innovative idea is not around motivation in general. It is about Motivation in Parenting.
It is about doing an exercise that will help in Motivating your children in the short term as well as the long term.
There are three pillars of deep impactful motivation.

1. Freedom – Remember the sacrifices freedom fighters made for the sake of FREEDOM. To most human beings nothing is more precious that FREEDOM.
2. Connection – Our best comes out when we FEEL connected. We stretch ourselves for people and ideas we feel connected with.
3. Learn – Humans see a bird flying and learn how to invent an aircraft. We see a fish swimming and learn how to invent boats. Our strongest drive is to explore and LEARN. Watch a child, it is always wanting to learn. There is a latent drive in every human being to develop themselves by learning.

As parents, when we provide all three to our children, they grow up to be exceptional people.
Keeping this in mind, here is an innovative idea.
Let us make this Valentine’s Day, super special for our child. How?
Create something through which you promise your child a life of Freedom, Connection and Learning.
Here are a few suggestions.
1) Write a letter the way one of our fellow ‘Wow Parent’ Ajit Totlane has written for his daughter Nupur ( Open-letter-to-my-daughter), on her 16th Birthday.
2) Song for your child – Listen to this outstanding song by Eric Clapton – “Through my father’s eyes”. This link has lyrics for you as well. You may be inspired to sing these words or sing an edited (by you) version for your child or maybe, write a brand new one for your child. You may even get a friend who is talented to write one for you.
3) Decorate their room with posters / paintings / ornamental hangings.
4) Create something for all of you – Did you have a childhood where the siblings got the same clothes albeit in different sizes? Maybe you loved it. Maybe you hated it. Ha ha.
How about creating a T – Shirt that is same to same, for all the members of the family?
The core idea behind these ideas are…
1) Make your child believe you are their first priority Valentine. No one else is. No one else will be.
2) Make your child feel they can be FREE with you, make them feel CONNECTED with you, be a person with whom they would LOVE TO LEARN.
In other words, touch them deep with your gesture.
Let me leave you with these lyrics that always leave tears in my eyes (like just now)
SLEEPING CHILD  by Michael Learns to Rock
The Milky Way upon the heavens
Is twinkling just for you
And Mr. Moon he came by
To say goodnight to you
I’ll sing for you I’ll sing for mother
We’re praying for the world
And for the people everywhere
Gonna show them all we care
Oh my sleeping child the world’s so wild
But you’ve build your own paradise
That’s one reason why I’ll cover you sleeping child
If all the people around the world
They had a mind like yours
We’d have no fighting and no wars
There would be lasting peace on Earth
If all the kings and all the leaders
Could see you here this way
They would hold the Earth in their arms
They would learn to watch you play
Oh my sleeping child the world’s so wild
But you’ve build your own paradise
That’s one reason why I’ll cover you sleeping child
I’m gonna cover my sleeping child
Keep you away from the world so.
Love you loads my darling
naren