"Having had a difficult relationship with one's parents is a greater risk factor for adult disease than smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure combined." This dramatic claim was made by John Robbins in his best-selling book, Healthy at 100 (New York: Ballantine Books, 2007). To illustrate his point Robbins describes a study launched in the 1950s by Harvard University in which 125 randomly selected undergraduate students were quizzed about their relationships with their parents.
"The students were asked, 'What kind of person is your mother?' and 'What kind of person is your father?' The researchers simply counted the number of positive and negative words the students wrote down in describing their parents...And it was immensely powerful. Fully 95 percent of the students who had used few positive words to describe their parents developed serious diseases in mid-life, whereas only 29 percent of those who had used many positive words developed comparable diseases."
Robbins concludes by quoting surgeon Bernie Siegel who observed, "The greatest disease of mankind is lack of love for children."
Inspiring Practices for Partnering with Families |
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Displaying 1 CommentChicago, Illinois, United States
I say, "Amen!" Bernie Siegel who observed, "The greatest disease of mankind is lack of love for children."
It is a cycle of not knowing that contaminates the water of our family. We are responsible for our missteps with our children, our parents are responsible for the missteps with us, our grandparents are responsible for the missteps with our parents it is a disease of our lineage, It is a disease supported by the historical context of our ancestors time, it is a disease fostered by mother natures expressions. This disease is nurtured by many fears, injustices and hunger. It is easy to find blame because it exists all around us. It is easy to also take time to embrace the pain that exists, acknowledge our roll and be more mindful. I am so guilty of feeling and expressing, I will take time to feel and think. It is so hard sometimes.................... I enjoy my babies, the children put into my care everyday. I watch them explore and can't help but want to be more like them. So I say Amen, again and again and strive to be more aware. Thank you.
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