Consistency plays a crucial role in the social, emotional, and cognitive development of babies and young children. Consistent experiences that involve regularity, predictability, routines, orderliness, and setting and enforcing limits contribute to a stable and positive environment. Repeated experiences in a consistent environment strengthen connections in the brain and form the foundation for the development of trust, self-esteem, behavior regulation, and other abilities.
Children benefit from consistent environments, relationships, and interactions, which promote emotional security, trust, and secure attachments. Such consistency helps children feel relaxed, learn how to manage their own behavior, and make good decisions. However, being consistent does not imply never changing schedules or rules or always being in control of a child’s actions. Flexibility is important to meet the changing needs of children. Even with a consistent routine, some details may change from day to day, and that is healthy. Ultimately, consistency brings about stability that the whole family can depend on -helping to build a fortified family unit.
Relentless Pursuit by Hashim Lafond:
One day, I told my wife, “We don’t have to be together just because we have history.” I want us to choose each other every year, every day, every hour. We renew our vows every five years. I ask her to be my Valentine every year. I don’t want to just assume.
We met in high school. I asked her to be my girlfriend on a piece of paper when we were both 15 years old. I took her back to the same spot and asked her to be my wife on my 21st birthday. I proposed to her a life filled with lots of adventures, lots of children, and showcasing our love to the world.
After 19 years together, 11 years of marriage, six children later, and lovingly supporting each other through pursuing our creative dreams and passions, we finally find ourselves manifesting our dreams into reality. We recently landed a national television show that is currently airing on ABC & HULU, which allows us to share our love story with the world and how we raise our children.
When I look at how we got here, it was because of our consistency. I consistently chose my wife every day and will continue to propose new visions for our lives as time passes. My wife consistently supports me and impeccably cares for our family. We consistently raised our children founded on faith-based principals and truth. We consistently find positivity in every possible situation and consistently press forward in the pursuit of our purpose –regardless of obstacles, struggles, or setbacks. Our consistency includes accountability to one another, constantly checking in as we move forward to stay on track.
It’s easy to stay together when our dreams are so astronomical and aligned. They’re so huge that we can’t accomplish them alone. They require us to pray, agree, and believe for so much more together. That is something that we do consistently.
I thank God for a woman who accepted my proposal, adopted my dreams, helped make them a reality, and is consistently with me every step of the way as we build this life together.
Author:
Hashim LaFond
