PARENTING

 

What does it mean to be a parent?

Suppose your child is getting ready for school and he is a little late. He might miss the school bus because he must finish his breakfast also. Now the question is -   What should be your reaction as a parent at that time?

You have two options –

·        One is scold him for being late and tell him to take his sandwich or whatever he is eating in his hand and eat in the bus and just run to catch the bus

·        Second is you tell him not to worry as an alternate arrangement can be made to drop him to school. So, he can take his time and have his breakfast

The first style creates – fear and negativity.

The second style creates – love and positivity.

Your parenting style will have a major impact on your child’s personality, thought process, the way he will tackle problems when he grows up.

What is parenting?

Parenting is the easiest thing in the world to have an opinion about, but the toughest thing in the world to do. Parenting is neither a cakewalk nor just a robotic attention to the needs of a child. It is to provide basic needs for their physical, emotional, social and intellectual development right from infancy to adulthood. It is the act and attitude of unconditional love.

What does it require to be a good parent?

There are no hard and fast rules to be a good parent. That is what makes parenting so difficult. There is a beginning but no end to this. You need to be an involved parent. Parenting is different for different individuals and different situations. Not every parenting style is in the child’s best interest. Children need:

·        Your affection and appreciation

·        To be accepted the way they are

·        A stable and consistent environment

·        Your permission to make choices and explore independence

·        To be led by an example

·        Your support to experience failures

·        Space to develop their own interests

·        Love, validation and emotional security

·        Your encouragement and respect to feel important

As a parent you try to give your best to your child, but don’t forget that your child has his own temperament, his own personality, different way of thinking which is quite different from yours.

As a parent we think that children are everything for us. This is where we go wrong!! They are a part of our life. Nurture them and protect them when necessary. We all want our children to be successful and the best amongst their peers. Never ever try to make them the best product available on this earth. Every step that you take as a parent should be made with a goal in mind to make your child responsible and an independent person who can get on well with his life.

It’s impossible for a parent to be a perfect parent. But if you think that being a perfect parent is attainable, you need to be self-critical and adjust to the changing needs of a child as he grows and develops. Today’s children are the most impressionable and should learn and cultivate proper habits and manners before it’s too late to shape their character.

Always remember that you are not raising a kid; you are raising an adult who has to face the challenging situations in this world.

 

Points to remember:

§  Parenting your kid requires your time, love, understanding and patience

§  Your love for the child is incomparable

§  You are a role model for your child. Lead by example

§  You as a parent need to be consistent

§  It is a beautiful thing to be a parent. Just watch them learn and grow