Unexpected Gifts: Discovering and Nurturing the Strengths in Every Child

It certainly takes an optimist to think that these difficult economic times have any kind of silver lining. With so many people feeling the stress and worry of the global economic meltdown of the last month, it makes you wonder how as parents, grandparents and teachers, we can possibly salvage some teachable moments out of this global economic mess for our children.

Yet if we look closely at the truth of why, as a nation we are in such an uncomfortable position, we can begin to identify the rich lessons and themes of history and share them with our children. We can show our children that studying history teaches us that what we are experiencing is really not new and has been faced before.

However, we can emphasize another lesson of history that teaches us that we can develop a sense of resiliency in the event of any crisis and we can be inspired to rise above our fears and stress to reach out to others who, are indeed, less fortunate. In doing so, our fears are transformed into a sense of hope and optimism. It’s incredible how different our lives become when our focus is not on what we have lost but on what we have to give and how we can serve those in need.

So, perhaps the silver lining in all of these events is that we all can begin to think more outwardly and teach our children to do the same. You can start immediately by talking with your children about ways to help those in your own extended family, in your own neighborhood and community. Once you do this, you will have taught your children a lesson in serving and compassion – a lesson that will last a lifetime. It’s a lesson that money could never buy – even in the best of economic times.

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