From Preschool to Theoretical Physics - Coach Roland on Life Long Learning

So many parents get so bogged down in the homework issue that they forget about the most important thing of all: the relationship. Relating to your child with love and understanding is a million times more important than any particular homework assignment. . How much homework did Einstein do? . Who knows? Who cares? He did not do very well in school. So instead of homework, he was probably doodling and daydreaming. Does your child doodle and daydream? Maybe he or she is another Einstein. Many people do not know that when Mozart was a kid, his dad took him on several long trips. His dad intuitively knew that music was important to his son. He took his little son to major music centers so that he could meet composers, perform, attend concerts and see operas. One trip, when Mozart was 7 years old lasted 3 years! He and his dad visited all the major music centers of Western Europe. Another trip, when he was 11 years old, lasted 15 months. He got to meet Johann Christian B...

There was a song made famous by Otis Redding, and also sung by Frankie Laine, Frank Sinatra and others, called "Try a Little Tenderness." I recommend you listen to it, and just think about it as if it were a song written about relationships in general. "Try a little tenderness" is not a bad idea. The parent with a cell phone in one ear, yapping on the phone, and barking out snappy, bossy commands or "I'll talk to you later" to her child is most likely a prideful, arrogant person. If someone questions her about her supercilious condescending treatment of her child, she has plenty of excuses, rationale, and justification all rushing to the defense of her pride. But the parent's message to the child is clear: You are not important. I am important. You are bothering me. Another thing. Why do we have to be authoritarian and hard when it comes to little issues with our kids? I was talking to a lady yesterday, and the question arose about what is the most...