Epiphany Lutheran School
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Happiness

2/26/2015

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Dear parents,

This is the third in my series of mistake we as parents can avoid. Today I am writing about prioritizing our children's happiness.  Wanting our children to be happy sounds like such a great thing, but it is fraught with danger.  Happiness is something we all want, but it is not achieved by focusing on being happy.  Instead it is a byproduct of doing what is right and adding value to the lives of others.  It seems very strange, but happiness is one thing that is not achieved by focusing on it.  Instead, focusing on our children's happiness only serves to make them more self-centered and dissatisfied with life. 

So on what can we focus to help our children be happy as a byproduct?  Dr. Elmore suggests our children need to hear five things from us.  

Watch. They need to see an adult who has direction and discipline in his or her life.  They need to see someone who is not self-centered, someone who invests in other people.

Practice.  Children have plenty of amusements that offer pleasure, but they need help practicing something until they are good at it, choosing something important and working on it until they master it.

No.  They need a mentor, not a buddy.  They have lots of buddies who will enjoy the moment with them, but only you are the parents who will watch out for their future by keeping them on a good moral and emotional track right now.

Wait.  Most children are not naturals at delayed gratification; they need our help.  Waiting for things will help them to more appreciate those things.

Serve.  As a culture we are beginning to wake up to the need to reach out and do something larger than ourselves.  High schools and colleges are beginning to require community service.  It's one of the reasons our students take turns visiting Grace Care Center to sing to the residents.  Working to build something outside ourselves and larger than ourselves gives a sense of satisfaction that immediate gratification can never accomplish. 

I hope these practical suggestions will be helpful to all of us in our roles with our children.

Blessings on your parenting,

Tim Miesner

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Location

14423 West Rd.
​ Houston, TX 77041
P: 713-896-1843 - K-8th
​P: 713-896-1316 - Preschool
​F: 713-896-7568

What our families Are Saying

"Faith, character and values are of utmost importance in our home. Epiphany Lutheran School has provided invaluable teachings for my children in this area. The teachers have always provided positive, open communication and dialog so you truly feel like you are working together in "raising" your children. We love the family environment, culture and camaraderie the students have with each other. It is truly a blessing to be a part of this school community." Great Schools reviewer

"Awesome school! My son is in 8th grade and I have seen him grow socially and his work ethic is 100% improved. This class sizes are small which means greater 1-1 attention. I wish I would have sent him earlier. I highly recommend Epiphany!" Great Schools reviewer

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Epiphany Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, athletics, or other school administered programs.
 
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Activities & Athletics
    • General Facts
    • Partners
    • Contact ELS
  • Admissions
    • Enroll Now
    • 2021-2022 Tuition and Fees
    • Dress Code & Uniforms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Academics
    • 2020-2021 Calendar
    • 2021-2022 Calendar
    • School Staff Directory
    • Elementary School (K-5)
    • Middle School (6-8)
  • Preschool
    • Payments
    • Preschool Staff
    • Preschool History
    • Registration Forms & Handbook
    • Registration, Schedule, & Fees Information
    • Preschool/MDO Supply List
    • Preschool Contact
  • FACTS
  • Back To School Plan
  • Church