Glad you are here.

Question for you
Do you actually love yourself?
If yes, how do you notice it?
If not, what if you could – just as you are?

Quote for you
A line from the well-known poem, once spoken by Charlie Chaplin but written by Kim McMillen, stays with me:
“When I loved myself enough, I began to understand that I am always, at any given moment, at the right place at the right time… Today I know, that is called trust.”

How we guide children on their path to self-love
And what does this mean for our children? How can we support them so they grow into adults who love and trust themselves?
There is no recipe for self-love. But there are hints of what helps it grow and what can hold it back. Much of it starts with us, because children learn by example. They feel our inner world, even when we never put it into words.

So guiding our children towards self-love begins with us, with the question of how we treat ourselves.
– Children need adults who act out of trust, not fear.
– Families need spaces where being real counts more than being perfect.
– Education needs people who accept themselves, so they can truly see children.

An exercise for your family: The pride jar
Every family member gets their own jar. Once a week you write or draw on a note what you are proud of. Sometimes it is something bigger, maybe a task you managed or something you tried out. Sometimes it is very small, like a friendly moment or a short instant when you noticed: that was good. And sometimes mistakes can also go into the jar, for example: I made a mistake and I didn’t give up. That too can make us proud.

Over time the jar fills. And when it is finally full, you take time together to look through the notes. You remember the moments, you talk about them, you reflect together. Maybe you connect it with a small ritual, like a favourite meal or simply a cosy hour as a family.

Becoming aware of your own self-efficacy and feeling: I can do something, I have already achieved a lot. That feels good. Not only for children, but also for us adults.

If you like, tell me if you try the Pride Jar in your family and what kind of experiences you have with it.

Want more? Recommended reading:
The quote is from Kim McMillen’s book When I Loved Myself Enough (1996).

An invitation
If we give ourselves more space, there is also more space for our children to be real.
I invite you to think about these two questions today:
How do you notice that you meet yourself with trust?
What small step towards more self-love will you take this weekend?

There is no recipe for self-love. But there are signs that show what helps it grow – and what can weaken it. Much of it starts with us, because children learn by watching. They sense our inner life, even when we don’t put it into words.

Sometimes a small moment is enough – when we allow ourselves a break, speak kindly to ourselves, or calmly accept a mistake. Children notice these things. And they learn: it’s okay to like yourself.

So maybe today you can ask yourself: How do you show yourself that you love yourself – and what do your children see from that?