10. Show your enthusiasm. I remember as a child, even if my mom or dad was embroiled in a task, I knew that they were happy I was around. The deep roots of self esteem that come from such a knowing have affected everything I have done since. Even if you are busy, make sure your enthusiasm shows when your child walks into the room. You do not have to stop what you are doing. Just send them signals, verbal or nonverbal, that you are happy they arrived.

11. Praise. So much has been said lately about the danger of overpraising a child, and it is certainly important to be careful when offering praise. You want the child to reward themselves internally for a job well done, and not to be constantly looking for a carrot. I have recently heard it said that the most positive kind of praise occurs when you are praising their personal judgment, and I think that is very wise. Lots of healthy praise is a beautiful thing.

12. Reflect often on the beauty (and the power) of parenting. Here is a ritual from my household: Once my children have fallen asleep at night, I watch them peacefully sleep for a few moments and think about how much happiness they created that day for me. I try to quiet my mind, just for a moment or two, and think about how very much I adore them. Meditating on this inner knowing, however briefly, can make it easier to be tolerant of those little things that all children do to drive us nuts. It is also helpful to think often about how instrumental your love will be to their happiness and their worldview both now and way off into the future.