The art of good parenting begins with the fundamental skill of seeing through the eyes of the child, of sharing the child's view or reality, feelings and hopes. It is this awareness of the world that permits a parent, grandparent or teacher to hold the child when threatened, to love the child when lonely, to teach the child when inquisitive, and to discipline the child who knows he is wrong.
The success of the entire parent-child relationship depends on this perceptive skill. How often do teenagers complain, "My parents don't understand me"? They are pronouncing judgment on their parents' inability to "mind read" their life. This ability is acquired by developing an understanding of the meaning of behavior.
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