Kellie Martin on R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Submitted by Kellie Martin
I really think it's important from the moment that your baby enters the world to respect her and treat her like a person who has ideas and feelings and needs. I think it's something that a lot of people don't naturally think about or know how to do.
We've always made a point to treat Maggie with respect. For instance, I don't ever just grab her and pull her diaper off—I always tell her that I'm going to change her diaper. Even when she was a baby, I would narrate what I was doing, whether it was picking her up or putting on her shirt, I let her know what was going to happen. Some people though I was nuts talking to a teeny infant, but I think it really helped her feel comfortable and secure.
When kids misbehave, parents are often quick to say "no" or grab things from them. I think that more parents need to tell their kids WHY they're saying no or taking something away and why it's bad for them. I think it helps kids understand that you're just interested in keeping them and those around them safe, because that's what it's really all about.
If you want your kids to grow up to respect you, you need to show them that you respect them first.
Besides being a mom, Kellie Martin is best known for her TV roles as Becca on Life Goes On and Lucy Knight on ER.
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