No Time? Good News For Parents!
By Vicki Jardine
Moms and Dads from all backgrounds and all situations struggle constantly with the daily ‘daily-ness’ of being a parent. We all have the same 1440 minutes in a day. So how do we make sure we are ‘being there’ for our kids in the ways that matter most?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a career professional, a business owner or a stay-at-home mom or dad, understanding what your child really needs from you today and everyday is only part of the equation.
You still have to figure out how to deliver the goods. Here are 3 things that will take some of the stress out being a parent:
1. Your child will grow up!
Hey, doesn’t that feel good, just knowing that. We parents forget sometimes. It’s not always going to be like it is.
Now that’s good news AND bad news in some ways. I mean, you have to know, this parenting thing – it’s not a dress rehearsal.
So why not commit to developing your knowledge weekly to become the best parent you can be. (Hint: Think about your own parents. You probably believe they did their best as parents, but that doesn’t stop you from wondering how much better things could have been if they had known what you needed more).
2. Your child’s emotional needs are just as important as their physical ones.
So often we parents are consumed with providing the roof, the food and the clothing (especially in the current economic environment). We work long hours and come home feeling tired and stressed.
It’s easy to think we will take care of the emotional stuff ‘tomorrow’.
In reality that is not how it works for children. They are driven almost entirely by having their needs met. Their behaviour for the most part is their way of telling you what they need.
Remember, they don’t have the maturity to understand themselves. That’s where you come in.
Now don’t feel overwhelmed as I have some good news for you. You can start meeting your child’s emotional needs every day.
Here are some ideas:
• Look your child in the eye and smile every chance you get.
• Catch your child doing something good.
• Find things to praise (Hint: there should be more praises than corrections).
• Ask your child questions that require more than ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers.
• When your child answers you, ask them a question relating to their answer (Show them you’re interested in what they have to say. Don’t you remember craving your parents attention when you were little?).
• Boast about your child to a friend.
• Celebrate your child’s efforts (not only their achievements).
3. Allow your child to hear your thoughts
By this I mean verbalise how you work through problems, obstacles and daily disappointments.
Children need to see that you cope with setbacks and disappointments all the time. They need to hear the words that make up your thoughts. They need to know that you have the same feelings that they do and that they can learn to handle them.
They also need to know that you trust them with your thoughts. How else do you expect them to trust you with theirs?
You will be amazed at how even just these 3 points will change the atmosphere in your home. You may even find yourself noticing how delightful your child is on a regular basis. Your mornings will go more smoothly and your evenings will too.
And hey…. did you notice? None of these points take any ‘time’ to apply. You just incorporate them into what you’re already doing because after all….it’s not about having more time. It’s about being the greatest parent you can be, with the time you have.
Copyright 2008 Highly Successful Kids
All Rights Reserved
Vicki delivers fast, simple and easy to implement parenting tools that reflect her 30 years of experience working in the area of child development.
What sets Vicki apart is she tailors her expertise to fit the needs of all modern, busy parents. She recognizes that parents are also often career professionals and/or business people and ensures her strategies are of the most value to the most people in the shortest time.
The key, Vicki believes is to empower parents to incorporate her strategies into the daily activities that they are already doing with their children. In fact, Vicki insists that a parent can implement her strategies in just 7 minutes a day and expect to make a difference in how smoothly their daily family life becomes right from day one.
Vicki divides her time between writing and speaking to professionals and non-professionals about becoming better parents and teaches them how this area of their life is completely relevant to their success in business and their professional life.
Go to http://www.permissiontoshine.com to get your FREE AUDIO to find out how Vicki can make your life as a parent more effective and more simple.
www.talkbacktovickijardine.com Vicki is waiting to hear from you.
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