Author: UNKNOWN?
Categories: Parenting
Published: 2022/09/29 at 7:59 pm
1. Respect your children and who they are as people.
We may not always agree but giving them the space to discover what they like and who they want to be, also helps them establish healthy behaviors and appreciate themselves.
2. Teach them to clean up their own mess and allow them to take responsibility.
As children cleaning up a mess may be as simple as spilled milk, but as children grow the mess gets larger, and it’s important that they are given the opportunity to learn from mistakes and apologize, take responsibility, and even change some behaviors when needed.
3. Allow them to make their own decisions.
Teach them how to make educated, healthy, and decisive decisions in a safe non-judgmental space. While we may not always agree, we have to understand that what works for us may not work for them, and that is OK. It’s also ok if they realize later that they should have chosen another course, and it’s still a safe space where they will not be criticized in.
4. Establish boundaries.
Rules are important, take the time to discuss rules and establish consequences for unacceptable behaviors and even rewards for doing well. Whatever you do, BE FAIR. The rules may change as they grow, but consistency and responsibility should remain constant.
5. Don’t be afraid of difficult conversations.
Difficult conversations will come, but most parents find them easier when they have conversations with their children all the time. Talk to your kids, find out how their day is going, and how they are feeling, and establish a safe place to vent and discuss life and its craziness. This does not mean that there will not be times that the conversations won’t make you cringe or even want to run a hide, but how will they learn to talk and digest life if no one works through it with them? This may take trial and error, especially if you never had a safe space yourself, that is why counseling can help.
6. Laugh, dance, and enjoy them.
Don’t take it all too seriously, mistakes are made, issues arise, and bloopers happen. Apologize if you did something wrong, laugh when it’s funny, and dance with each other like no one is looking. In other words, take the pressure off. We are all uniquely, wonderfully, and beautifully made, and we get it wrong sometimes. But every now and then we accidentally get it right! Learn to enjoy every minute of the journey.
7. Take some time for yourself.
Often parents are in the middle of a juggling act with work, bills, children, and personal issues. Take a little time each day to meditate and gather your thoughts. We often bring every issue home with us, and it shows in our behavior. Making sure you take a minute to relax your mind, even if it’s a few minutes before you walk into the daycare or deep breaths before you have a conversation with your teen, it helps. Find the healthy mental break that works for you, it will help your children.
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