Leg One - I am loved by the magic people in my life

Cline/Fay say, "The best kind of love is the love that comes with no strings attached.....genuine love must be shown regardless of the kids' accomplishments. That does not mean, however, that we approve of all their actions. Some parents withhold love as a way of making children behave better or to break bad habits. Others, in their zeal to help youngsters improve schoolwork, for example, exert so much "love' getting them to do their homework that the children receive covert messages that real love will have to wait until they improve. In reality, the interaction between parents and children - the expression of love - is far more important than the kids' successes or failures. Here's a paradox: Kids can't get better until we prove to them, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they're good enough the way they are. Strong, effective parents say in both their overt and covert messages, 'there's a lot of love here for you regardless of the way you act or do your work at school or anyplace else'. When this love is combined with touching, a smile, and eye contact, a super-glue bond is created between parent and child. Kids remember these messages for a lifetime when they come from "magical people" in their lives - close family members and special teachers. They subconsciously - even consciously - set out to prove that their magical people are correct.