Life can be tough and cruel. It can also be filled with joy and grace. The difference is kindness.

You are your children’s best teacher on how to be kind.

Kindness is a habit. Giving your children the gift of a kind heart is a gift of a lifetime. As children grow up, kindness changes into character.

Life can be tough and cruel. It can also be filled with joy and grace. The difference is kindness.

You are your children’s best teacher on how to be kind.

Kindness is a habit. Giving your children the gift of a kind heart is a gift of a lifetime. As children grow up, kindness changes into character.

Here are facts that may comfort you and prepare you to push back on misguided relatives:

• Children who are pressured to eat tend to eat less.
• Encouraging children to eat more or less than they want can affect them for years. Research has found that restricting foods from a child’s diet can lead to overeating.

Great moms who let their children decide how much to eat, without encouragement or pressure, are demonstrating kindness one meal at a time.

Want to feel confident you are giving your children habits that last a lifetime? Check out habit options below:

• Let your children eat as much - or little - food as they want.
• Do not pressure children to eat more than they want by using phrases like “Eat three bites of each food before leaving the table,” or “Eat your veggies if you want dessert.”
• Turn off screens so your children can focus on listening to their bodies
• Offer food without comments. Bribery and punishments are not kind and do not work.