There is no doubt that we parents want our children to be the best that they can be and to explore all their capabilities, but we are also biologically hard wired to protect our children.
This is especially true and useful when we are first time parents, when our children are very small and need a lot of attention.
But our children often outgrow this need much sooner than we learn to adapt to. At times we don’t even acknowledge their need for more freedom. Unwittingly, we might be hovering over our children, helicopter parenting as it is called, and hampering their growth instead of allowing them to flourish.
Some of the ways we can overcome this tendency are:
- Allow our children to make small decisions as they grow and help them understand the consequences of their decisions
- Let our children make mistakes and encourage them to try again
- Give them appropriate chores at home and allow them to fulfill their responsibilities independently
- Set goals together as opposed to enforcing goals on them
- Be mindful of their developmental needs and our corresponding responses
St. Josemaría Escrivá advised parents, “Love your children’s freedom and teach them how to use their freedom.” Indeed, our children are their own persons, gifted by God with their own freedom.
We can rest easy in the knowledge that our children are entrusted to us by God who loves them infinitely more than we ever can.
Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz in Manila
Manila and Cebu welcomed Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz, the Prelate of Opus Dei, on his 3-week apostolic trip to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia in July-August 2023. He was accompanied in several activities by Rev. Father Julio Dieguez, the Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines.
At a get-together on July 29, 2023 hosted by Punlaan School with the PEPPI Board and the directors of other foundations, Msgr. Ocáriz encouraged everyone to take care of the quality of their work and always have a supernatural outlook, reminding the participants that “it is God who will help us if we work well.”
He also said it is important to work in collaboration “with a lot of people, dealing with everyone as children of God within a family, with the spirit of service, and understanding others’ needs.”
He reminded the participants that most of all, “we need to love the Lord and live in fraternity with others as we share our apostolic zeal.”
It was a lovely opportunity for the foundations to present their initiatives and have small chats with the Prelate.
