| Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
| 7 Lucky Ways Fathers Can Turn Poker Skills Into Parenting Thrills |
Sometimes taking a different look at parenting can inspire us with new ideas or remind us to practice sound principles we learned long ago, but in a more interesting way. I'm an avid poker player but also a committed father of two girls. And believe it or not, I've made some interesting connections between the two topics. Want to know how to turn your poker skills into parenting thrills? Here are 7 lucky ways to do it:
Play the Hand You're Dealt
In life, the "hand we're dealt" is the family environment we grew up in - how we were raised. Fathers should decide to pass on the positive aspects of their family heritage or change the negative aspects. Any hand can win, depending on how it's played.
Go ALL IN with Your Kids
In poker, going all in means committing all of your chips to the outcome of one hand, which is thrilling when you win. In parenting, going all in means making enduring commitments to your kids that will pay off in the long run, such as saving for their college education or helping them to grow spiritually.
Play No Limit Poker but Play Limit Parenting
No Limit Texas Hold 'Em is the most exciting game in the world because of the thrill of betting all of your chips at one time. However, fathers should practice Limit Parenting by setting limits and boundaries, all in an effort to help kids grow up to be responsible adults who enjoy good relationships.
Give Action to Get Action
In poker, giving action means playing even when you don't have a good hand, so eventually other players will give action back to you. In parenting, giving action means getting involved in your child's activities, even if the activity doesn't interest you. Your involvement shows genuine interest in your children as people. They might not understand that message, but they will feel it, and that's much more important.
Don't Bluff Your Kids
Bluffing works in poker but it doesn't work in parenting. Avoid making empty threats to your kids just to get them to do what you want. Instead, be honest and address the issue directly.
Know When to Hold 'Em and Know When to Scold 'Em
Communicate care and love by focusing on the positive things your kids do. When necessary, hold them accountable when they do behave poorly or fail to meet reasonable expectations.
Raise the Stakes by Having High Expectations
In poker, raising the stakes helps you win more money and in parenting, raising the expectations of your children helps them learn about themselves, build self-confidence, and succeed.
One of the reasons I enjoy poker is the competition and of course, the thrill of winning, whether the stakes are high or not. Well the stakes are definitely high when raising kids in this crazy world. That's why the best thrills I get in life will come from the payoff of my parenting. I hope yours will, too.
Article SourceLabels: Parenting
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posted by Khate @ 7:11 AM   |
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