The unconditional love thing... Times +Inf...
I'm a pretty result-driven person myself, but can't think of anything better to teach my kids than to know they're loved whatever they do.
I'm a pretty result-driven person myself, but can't think of anything better to teach my kids than to know they're loved whatever they do.
You can never see what's always there, such as the air we breathe. You can only understand it by logic and that's not until your teenage years, at the earliest. How could a toddler possibly understand love?
Edit: To clarity, of course you should love your children, unconditionally. But to teach them what unconditional love is, at an early age? Really?
This is also why depending on the jurisdiction and their age, minor are judged according to special laws. And I am not sure a place exists where a 4 years old would be put on trial.
Plus - considering the other comment - the concept of permanency is - at least in my very short experience - a difficult concept for a toddler.
As for a toddler not understanding permanency, that may be. However I don't really subscribe to the idea of claiming something is true (e.g. unconditional love), and then later amending it when permanency is more fully grasped. Similarly, I'm clear from the very beginning that Santa Claus is a fairy tale. I want my children to trust me, and in my eyes trust isn't earned by lying, even when the reason is ageism.
At least in my case, it's not revocable; I couldn't stop loving them even if I wanted to. And yes, that includes your hypothetical extreme example. My children will still be my beloved children regardless of their actions.