Being a parent is one of the most rewarding things
you can experience. However, that satisfaction will be
tested continuously as your child grows.
And they are going to grow up, whether you are
ready for them to or not.
You may not have a say in them aging, but you do
have control over how you handle it. Your ultimate
goal as a parent should be to raise independent
children and to do so you can choose to adopt
behaviors that will allow your child to develop into
the amazing person you know they are.
1. Don’t dismiss their feelings.
(Photo: Sometimes they just need you to listen.)
It’s important to remember that what your child is
going through now, they are experiencing it for the
first time. It might seem like a small matter to you,
having been there and done it before, but it is a big
deal to your child. Allow them to feel the way they are
feeling. Don’t dismiss their emotions but show
understanding instead. Share similar stories from your
past with them to help validate their experiences. As
much as you’ll want to, they are not asking you to
solve their problems. Just be there for them.
2. Treat them like adults.
(Photo: They can handle it. )
One mistake most parents make is not adjusting how
they treat their children to reflect that they are no
longer adolescents. As they grow, they should be
handed some of the responsibility and respect that
adults command. Assign them a few tasks that they
are accountable for and let them have ownership of
them. Grant them conditional freedoms and reward
them with more flexibility when they prove
themselves to be responsible young people.
3. Give them the right information.
(Photo: What do you wish you were taught?)
A very real concern with letting your child go is that
they will fall victim to the wrong kind of influences.
While you can’t be there to defend them every
moment of their lives, you can arm them with a
powerful tool: the right information. Pass on a strong
sense of morality and be truthful with them about the
dangers out in the world. Tell about the different
scenarios they might face (from peer pressure to their
emerging individuality). Teach them things you wish
you were taught as a young person. Most importantly,
make sure they know they are loved unconditionally.
Though it’s hard to let go, you have to have faith that
you have done your best to raise your child. You can’t
keep them from growing up, you can nurture the
incredible person they become.
Source: TD JAKES
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