importance of praise

So many times I go throughout my day and I forget to praise my child. I get caught up with "life" and all that's attached. I'm usually running here and there, forcing my son to move faster or stop dilly-dallying...and I sometimes forget to praise him on the great things that he does do (that sounds funny!).

Lately, when I have homework to do and I'm sitting at the table, I've been asking him to sit down with me and assigning him things to do in his workbooks. Now he's only 5, but he loves his workbooks and reading, so I'm really trying to encourage it. After every sheet he completes, he makes me read over it and put a star at the top if he got it right (something his teacher does in school). He gets such a kick out of it and is so proud of that little star because it means that he accomplished something, that he did good.

A few minutes ago, while studying for my next test, I glanced over at my homework assignments and one caught my eye. My professor's comment said, "Sarah, you do great work! Thanks Sarah, Very well done" and my face just lit up (I also came to the conclusion that she is my favorite prof this semester:-)

There's something so powerful in a small word of praise, and I'm not saying that in a boastful way. It stirs up some sort of happy euphoric emotion that satisfies the soul. Thinking about how great I felt reading that comment, makes me more conscious to praise those around me on a more constant basis because you never know when you can make someone's day:-)