How To Be A Great Parent

Posted on Mar 30, 2015 | 0 comments

Parenting is one of life’s greatest challenges. It is an emotional roller-coaster that keeps us on our toes at all times! Parenting can be smooth, it can be bumpy, it can be adventurous and it can be heart-breaking, but at the end of EVERY day, it is rewarding.

Honestly, there is no one way to be a great parent. But there are a few things that you can be aware of to get you on the path to being the best parent to your children.

7 Tips on How To Be A Great Parent

1^st Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Understand that your marriage is no longer yours alone. Your children are very much a part of it now. How you and your mate treat each other will be the basis for all of their relationships and those of the future generations. How you love each other, fight with each other, stand-by each other or put each other down will echo down the line for generations to come – just be aware of that.

2^nd Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Be happy yourself. Take 5 Parent Minutes a Day just for yourself, everyday. Remember that you are a person too. That your child is learning how to take care for themselves based on how you care for yourself – just be aware of that.

3^rd Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Get involved. Know who their friends are, talk & listen to your kids. While it is fun and great to teach our children what we love to do, it is also hugely beneficial to learn something that they are interested in – yes, even if it’s pokemon or minecraft! By taking some time to listen to what they are interested in then to learn it with them or from them you are subconsciously telling your child that THEY have value. This is so important to their self-esteem. Try volunteering in their class once a month (or however often you can, even if it is just once a year). Taking time out of your routine to come into their school has the same effect on them, the excitement you will see in their eyes will be thank you enough and the boost to their confidence is invaluable!

4^th Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Travel together. It is often overlooked how bonding a family trip can be. The ridiculous stigma that it is too hard to take kids out of town stops people cold in their tracks. When really, a good old family vacation can fix loads and loads of problems! So start close first, maybe a road trip to the next state or a flight to visit some friends or to an all-inclusive resort – but get some sort of family travel holiday planned soon! Here are 12 Reasons Why You Should Travel With Your Children.

5^th Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Say No!! Remember that you are the parent, in charge at all times. When the moment comes that your child hates you (and it literally is only for a moment, it will pass once they realize that eating all of that candy will make them sick anyway…!) is when you know you are a superstar parent. You are teaching them how to be healthy, kind, good people.

6^th Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Teach them. Don’t assume they pop out knowing how to spell, add and react to every situation! So be patient with them. Teach them how to be kind, show love, be happy, a good friend, a good sibling, a good child, to care for others and our earth, to be independent. Let them make mistakes and then work with them on what could have been better solutions so they can grow! Teach them how to be angry and sad. Reassure them that these feelings are ok and share with them what you do to get by it. Be sure that they grow to their highest potential, hold them to it!

7^th Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Get them involved. By giving them certain household duties it makes them feel responsible and part of something. Taking the time to bring them to extra activities is also very important to their emotional growth and self-value development. Keep them busy, show them how to encourage others by encouraging both your child and their friends and appreciating those who teach us things. This is a great way for them to learn respect, both for themselves and others.

8^th Tip on How To Be A Great Parent

Love. Simply love. Love yourself, love their other parent (in any way you can, there is not only one way to do this), love their siblings, love your child, love their friends.

At the end of the day, the only thing you truly need to be a great parent is LOVE.

What are your ways to be a great parent?

Malibu Mama Loves Xx