Inspirational Parenting Quotes

Quotes I find inspirational as a parent:

"Discipline is helping a child solve a problem.  Punishment is making a child suffer for having a problem.  To raise problem solvers, focus on solutions not retribution." L.R. Knost

"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice." Peggy O'Mara

"It is vital that our children know that they are loved and safe at home." Quentin L. Cook

"Children are not a distraction from more important work.  They are the most important work." CS Lewis

"He who gives money
GIVES MUCH;
he who gives time
GIVES MORE;
he who gives of himself
GIVES ALL."  President Thomas S. Monson

"No other success can compensate for failure in the home." President David O. McKay

"The most important of the Lord's work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes." President Harold B. Lee

"We call upon the women of the Church to stand together for righteousness.  They must begin in their own home.  They can teach it in their classes.  They can voice it in their communities.  They must be the teachers and the guardians of their daughters.  Those daughters must be taught in the Primary and in the classes of the Young Women of the values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When you save a girl, you save generations. She will grow in strength and righteousness.  She will marry in the house of the Lord.  She will teach her children the ways of truth.  They will walk in her paths and will similarly teach their children."  President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Mothers in Zion, your God-given roles are so vital to your own exaltation and to the salvation and exaltation of your family.  A child needs a mother more than all the things money can buy.  Spending time with your children is the greatest gift of all."  Ezra Taft Benson

"A child spells love T-I-M-E."

"Whenever a woman strengthens the faith of a child, she contributes to the strength of a family-now and in the future." (Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and work of Relief Society)

"Please excuse this mess, we're busy making memories."
"This house is clean enough to be healthy, messy enough to be happy."

"Never chooose house over hearts." Lisa Jacobson

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." Thomas S. Monson

"The best way to make children be good is to make them happy." Oscar Wilde

"The goal is not to have your child outwardly conform to your standards, but rather to be changed from the inside out." Mary Ellen Imperfect Homemaking

When your child is acting out in public, ask yourself these 6 questions (from The Purposeful Mom blog):

• Am I consistent in my teaching/discipline at home before we go out in public?
• Am I preparing my child for wherever we’re going so they know what’s expected of them before we get there?
• Is my child tired, hungry, needing some time just to sit by mom and get control or in need of discipline?
• Have I planned for how I’m going to handle things if they get out of control? Or even if we’re just encountering an embarrassing situation?
• Am I overreacting because I’m afraid of another mom judging my mothering skills? 
• Is my child really doing something foolish? Or just being childish and silly {isn’t morally wrong or bringing harm to anyone}?