Most parents are so caught up in making sure their kids think of them as a friend that they lose sight of being a parent. Sadly, many parents feel bad for the amount of time they spend separated from their children, so they replace that feeling of guilt with trying to form a friendship with their kids.
Being a parent first is our primary responsibility. We have a job to do, and this sometimes will make us very unpopular at the times when we have to say no and redirect them, however, that is the job. If a kid were completely capable of making good judgments, then they wouldn't need parents. They don't yet have a good filter by which to screen out information and look at the big picture. Just think about what you were like at their age. Didn't you think you knew everything? Did you really?
The best way to go about parenting is to let the child make age appropriate choices. This doesn't mean every decision, but giving them some sense of independence will help them grow into responsible adults. You will have to be the judge at where to draw the line.
So does this mean that you can't be friends with your child? Yes. You can have good communication with them. You can be open and honest and understanding when they make mistakes, however you can't be their friend because you still have the power and as long as you still have to pull a power play every now and again, then you need to keep a parent child relationship for this purpose.
Creating and maintaining boundaries with your child is sometimes hard, but necessary. To be a parent, you have to balance discipline with love, and be willing to admit that everyone makes mistakes. The fact that you are concerned enough to read information on being a parent shows that you are on the right path. Keep on trucking.
Being a parent first is our primary responsibility. We have a job to do, and this sometimes will make us very unpopular at the times when we have to say no and redirect them, however, that is the job. If a kid were completely capable of making good judgments, then they wouldn't need parents. They don't yet have a good filter by which to screen out information and look at the big picture. Just think about what you were like at their age. Didn't you think you knew everything? Did you really?
The best way to go about parenting is to let the child make age appropriate choices. This doesn't mean every decision, but giving them some sense of independence will help them grow into responsible adults. You will have to be the judge at where to draw the line.
So does this mean that you can't be friends with your child? Yes. You can have good communication with them. You can be open and honest and understanding when they make mistakes, however you can't be their friend because you still have the power and as long as you still have to pull a power play every now and again, then you need to keep a parent child relationship for this purpose.
Creating and maintaining boundaries with your child is sometimes hard, but necessary. To be a parent, you have to balance discipline with love, and be willing to admit that everyone makes mistakes. The fact that you are concerned enough to read information on being a parent shows that you are on the right path. Keep on trucking.
About the Author:
Parenting is not always simple. If you are struggling, check out parentinginformed.com for more parenting advice.
No comments:
Post a Comment