| Raising a child does not have to be by guess and | | | | So what are the three Major Principles of quality, |
| by gosh and hope you're doing it right. Parenting is | | | | the four Applied Principles, and the thirteen Quality |
| an activity, and like any and every action or | | | | Actions? Far more than will fit in one article. But |
| activity, it is subject to the principles of quality. | | | | here is the first Major Principle, on which all the |
| When the principles of quality are known and | | | | rest are based, and without which all the rest will |
| applied, high quality follows. Even more important, | | | | not work very well if at all: |
| since children learn mainly by example, they learn | | | | Quality is an attitude. |
| and apply the principles of quality in their own | | | | This is true. Quality is not a skill or a talent or high |
| lives, and do very well in all regards. | | | | intelligence or a gift. Quality comes directly from |
| From infancy, through toddlerhood, into childhood, | | | | the desire to do something better, get better |
| and from there on out, children do what they see | | | | results, improve something. The most wonderful |
| works. If crying gets results, they cry. If anger | | | | thing about this principle is that anyone can do it. |
| works, they are angry. They don't understand | | | | Starting anytime. That desire is yours if you want |
| until much later, if ever, that what worked with | | | | it, and no one, absolutely no one, can stop you |
| their parents when they were very young might | | | | from having it. |
| not work in other settings. So they keep on | | | | Notice also, that the Quality Attitude is a desire to |
| crying, or being angry, since they know it works, | | | | do something better, to get better results. A |
| and it's the only thing they know works. Their | | | | person who is improving, even if he is not good |
| lives are not very happy. | | | | yet, is succeeding. Failure is only lack of |
| Enter the principles of quality. What does it mean | | | | improvement. A brand new parent might not be a |
| to be a high quality parent? Exactly the same as | | | | good parent at first. But if he or she wants to |
| being a high quality violinist, telephone repairman, | | | | get better at it, and does what it takes to get |
| baseball player, or retail clerk. They get good | | | | better at it, eventually he or she will be a good |
| results. High quality doesn't happen by accident or | | | | parent, a high quality parent, and his or her kids |
| by making good guesses. High quality is based on | | | | will be great kids. |
| the principles of quality. Anyone who is better | | | | So how do you get better at something? Once |
| than average at a particular activity is applying | | | | you have this Quality Attitude, what do you do |
| some of these principles, whether they know it or | | | | with it? You apply the other principles of quality. |
| not. | | | | They are also freely available for anyone, without |
| Here is the other side of the coin: anyone who is | | | | special training. They are talked about in other |
| applying the principles of quality, to any activity, | | | | articles by the same author, so look them up. |
| will get good results. In the case of parents, other | | | | But only if you want to do something better, get |
| parents will envy them for having such great kids. | | | | better results, or improve something. |