Virtuous Parenting
Jackie Eghrari-Sabet
Although as a pediatrician she is somewhat of an expert on children,
Eghrari-Sabet quickly explained that she is not an expert on virtuous
parenting.
“Teaching virtues is a process—just as building the Kingdom
of God on Earth is a process—that won’t occur overnight,”
she told the overflow crowd.
The workshop was based on her experience using the popular manual The
Family Virtues Guide with her own children.
Some virtues-based parenting strategies she discussed included using
the vocabulary of the virtues (“I need you to be peaceful”
versus “You’re not being nice”); modeling the virtues
in your own life (to the best of your ability!); and being a spiritual
companion (asking questions to help children realize they have choices).
“We are all works in progress!” Jackie assured. “Surround
yourself with like-minded people and support each other to use virtues
in parenting. As we teach virtues to our children, we find our own.”
She added that The Family Virtues Guide is an excellent resource
to help us mine the “hidden gems” inside each one of us—adults
as well as children.
The Family Virtues Guide was written by Linda Kavelin Popov,
a Bahá’í, and is available at most bookstores and through the Bahá’í
Distribution Service.
—Ellen Wheeler, reporter
