Amberger Zeitung
Every Child Starts out as a Little Genius
Successful authoress speaks about the "the
right way to educate" - Highest rule: Mom has fun!
(Following is
an English translation of a German newspaper article published on
November 7, 2005 in the Amberger Zeitung covering an evening
parenting seminar given by Nicole MacKenzie.)
Amberg. (acz) As of Wednesday evening, people from Amberg can be relieved from
watching television. Since Friday many Ambergers have gotten clarity:
they can smoke the parenting tips of RTL educator Super Nanny, alias
Katharina Saalfrank, in their pipe! Nicole MacKenzie, mother of 6,
author and psychological advisor - at the invitation of the Flika
- an advocate association (advocate association for the clinic for
children and youngsters in the medical center in Amberg) - and her
convincing education method brought to light that: in each child is
a small genius and punishment belongs to the past.
Just the title of her educational method seems to lighten the mood
of many unnerved mothers: " Mom has fun!" And already one
is right in the middle of the MacKenzie Education learning method,
because that title describes the first parenting rule. "Mom has
fun", the education researcher insists on the importance of that
even though she doesn't consider herself a psychologist nor
a very good "natural" mother. Nicole MacKenzie is married
and has six children. She left Switzerland 19 years ago to research
self-actualization theories in the USA.
In the meantime, she herself became a successful author and found
with the Amberger mothers a more than thankful audience for her brand
new theories. For over two hours she captured her audience with fascination.
Thanks to her tips, many can now enjoy everyday life with their dear
little ones much more and also enjoy, be aware, and see more of their
child's genius. In order that people could convince themselves
of the success of her methodology, Nicole MacKenzie brought a compelling
testimonial - her 16-year-old daughter Mia.
Mia talked at the beginning "about the great respect which she
shares with her own parents." However, at the same time she also
talked about the ineffective, disrespectful upbringing many of her
peers had, and the subsequent unsatisfying relationships with their
parents. Thanks to her mother Nicole's parenting method, she
learned "not to take everything that happens in her environment
personally." In contrast to her daughter, Nicole MacKenzie raised
no claim to perfection. This made her method even more believable.
She talks about how people use two distinct "operating systems".
The pristine operating system one is born with, and the emotional
operating system, one has to learn.
She points out the connection to Buckminster Fullers quote: "Everyone
is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them."
Bringing out the genius in the child while enhancing emotional intelligence
is the most important parenting task. Babies live in the wonderful
state of self-actualization until they enter the phase of the so-called
"terrible twos."
The primary parenting problem she sees are the "struggles for
power". These would be absolutely ineffective if the parents
would not get caught emotionally and over react. Responding to your
child is the magic word here. Holding him accountable while bringing
out more and more of their genius. She sees the development of emotional
intelligence as a must for all moms and dads. To remind a child five
times of the same thing is complete nonsense and an invitation to
power-struggles.
MacKenzie also pointed out that to be mad all by your self with no
one reacting is very boring. And, "One can be only in a state
of emotion if one has all the attention on ones-self." Therefore
communication is a very important tool. It is important to hand the
children a flashlight to move around in the thicket of the world of
emotions. Then not only moms would have more fun, but also the children.
For those of you who have missed the talk: Nicole MacKenzie comes
back in March.
(To read the
Amberger Zeitung article in original German, please
click here.)
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