Top coaches and motivational speakers make bread with the dough of thousands wanting to see them on stage.

The book market is flooded with self-help and personal development books, from the most uninspired to the most eccentric or bizarre, and only a tiny percentage of helpful ones.

We are constantly reminded to get out of our comfort zone. We must "work on ourselves" and "find and fix our blind spots."

Parents, though, have their own mini Tony Robbins at home. A personal self-development coach who's always with you, has no filter (at least the first few years,) and can call on your bullshit faster than it takes for you to tell them to brush their teeth.

Here she comes. Shoot, I thought she wouldn't hear me in the kitchen. "Papa, you said sugar was unhealthy. Why are you having ice cream?"

Made-up rules, even well-intended, are short-lived with kids. If you are going to try and enforce something, you better have a good explanation. You won't be able to answer, "Well, ahem, it's ok for ADULTS to have ice cream," for very long.

Raising children reveals our flaws.

It's tough to recognize our unfairness. A bad day easily spills over into our relationships with our loved ones. We are short with them, blowing things out of proportion. We struggle to forgive or apologize as fast as we'd like.

Children's innocence discloses one's shortcomings. They melt our hearts and make us want to do better. I am inspired to see how quickly my daughter sincerely forgives me or her brother.

Luckily, raising children also amplifies and magnifies our qualities.

With them, since having them, I am more loving and generous than I've ever thought I could be. I endure repeated irritations better than I thought I would.

If we are willing to see it, we can glimpse at what good human nature is by observing our children. Watch out for hints they give you and imitate them more often; you are guaranteed to grow for the better.