“Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” (Thomas Jefferson)

Not only did Jefferson give us the Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase, but he gave us a model of leadership that we would all benefit from adopting.

Deep down, we all know that panic and anxiety do nothing but undercut authority in any relationship. Think about it: Which boss would you rather work for? One who flips out at the first sign of trouble? Or one who calmly analyzes the situation and confidently plots the best course of action? Face it. We simply don’t respect people who act out of their fear. We may respond to them, but we do so reluctantly and without joy. Our kids aren’t any different.

Parenting is unpredictable. No matter how much you may want to, you cannot possibly plan for every scenario or circumstance. What you can do is prepare yourself. Focus on keeping your own fears and worries in perspective so that in times of crisis, they don’t run the show. When you have enough control over yourself to remain cool and unruffled, no matter what comes your way, you can tap into solutions which come from your principles rather than your panic. And that, like Jefferson says, gives you the greatest advantage in life that there is.