1. Commitment — the law of the geese.
Canada geese mate for life, and although they migrate thousands of miles, they always come home.
Be like the geese. Be conscious of your commitment, and hold your priorities in V formation, with family at the front. Always come home!
2. Praise — the law of the crabs.
You need only a shallow bucket as you catch crabs because one crab will instinctively pull another back if he tries to climb out.
Don't be like the crabs. Boost up rather than pull down. Resist the instinct to criticize; cultivate the instinct to praise. Shed your shell and grow.
3. Communication — the law of the whales.
The songs of humpback whales encourage one another constantly within their family pod — and they never interrupt. Family communication is all about listening and lifting.
Be like the whale. Make your family communication into a listening, lifting song.
4. Consistency — the law of the tortoise.
The turtle won the race because he knew (and prioritized) where he was going. In families, steadiness, consistency and endurance always win. Parents' availability is more important than their ability.
Be like the tortoise. Establish schedules, habits and traditions that give children the comfort of consistency and assure an eventual good finish in the long race of raising children.
5. Discipline — the law of the elephant's trunk.
An elephant's trunk can pick up a 500-pound log or a single blade of grass. Family love can be both tough and tender.
Be like the elephant's trunk. Tell children how much you love them and explain that it's because of that love you have to be sure they do what is right, that they follow rules and that they are safe.
6. Security — the law of the redwoods.
Redwoods have short, shallow roots, but they intertwine with the other roots in their grove. Families with connected roots stand firm against the wind.
Be like the redwoods. Give your children the identity and security of knowing who they are and where they came from. Link your roots with those of others who love your kids. Keep your grove growing straight and tall, protected from wind and rot.
7. Responsibility— the law of the bear.
Though it's a natural impulse, it's a dangerous mistake to run from a bear. In our families, we grow when we face responsibility and we shrink when we run from it.
Remember the bear. Don't run. Stay. Fully accept family responsibility and turn it into a joy. Give children responsibility, which is the ultimate indication of your respect for them. Make responsibility a key word and a frequent topic of conversation. There are no quick fixes, but ultimately, responsibility becomes the measure of our lives.
8. Awareness — the law of the frog.
Frogs can get cooked when they lose their awareness or stay too long in their comfort zone. Within families, awareness opens opportunities and defuses danger.
Don't be like the frog. Don't get too comfortable. Don't assume anything. Be motivated by positive love rather than negative suspicion, but exercise the right to know!
9. Freedom — the law of the flea.
Keep fleas in a box long enough and they'll never jump above lid level even when the lid is gone. Families should be about freedom and empowerment, not about boxes and lids.
Remember the flea. Remember that the final step in nurturing is to let go.
Source: "The Book of Nurturing: Nine Natural Laws for Enriching Your Family Life" by Richard and Linda Eyre