Parenting
I am the Mom of one. Some would say that doesn’t really count as being a parent, that you have to have multiple kids to know anything, and to some extent, I would agree. You would especially think this about me if you knew my daughter. Aiden has been an angel since the day she was born. Seriously, the best kid anyone could ask for. She is 22 now, and my “parenting” days are about over. Now I get to have her as my “Ride or Die” bestie. I’m not offering advice on the best diapers to use, breastfeeding vs bottles, getting into the best schools, what age they should date, learning to drive, or college admissions. All of that is important, but none of it will make you a great parent. My advice is pretty simple, and I think it is also universally true whether you have one kid or a passel of ‘em: Give your child Love and Respect.
Loving your child comes naturally, especially when they are small. They will demand your attention, hugs, kisses, cuddles, praise, and discipline. But as they get older, they need all those things just as much. They just think they are too old for all that. Their not. Your child needs you to show them your love just as much at 13 as they do at 3. They need just as much attention, affection, praise and discipline. And Yes, discipline is loving. I could (and probably will) do a whole other post about discipline cause Lord knows - proper discipline is, and has been, sorely lacking in the raising of children for generations now.
Respecting your child might be a new thought. We tend to think of our kids as extensions of ourself. Like they are another appendage, this one just happens to be not attached to our body. However, they are a separate and distinct individual. They have their own thoughts, feelings and actions. We do not control them any more than we control anyone else, nor should we. Give importance to your child’s thoughts. Ask their opinion. Ask for their choices. Validate your child’s feelings. Acknowledge that they have the right to be angry, frustrated, sad. Let them experience the consequence of their actions, both good and bad. Consequences are how we learn to chose better actions. Respecting your child gives them a sense of self worth. If you respect them, they will respect themselves and learn from your example how to respect others.
