I have three girls and two grandchildren and I have learned a few things.
Promises given, Promises kept - If you promise your child an ice cream for cleaning their room, keep it. If you promise a spanking the next time they act up, then do it,
Let your child choose when you can - When they are little take out two outfits that are okay with you and let them choose. Don't offer any choice that you can't accept.
Don't sweat the small stuff - If your daughter wants to wear the red hair ribbon with the blue outfit, so be it. It is not a big issue, so don't make it one.
You don't have to want to; you just have to do it - There are lots of things we don't want to do, There are lots of things our children don't want to do, but You don't have to want to, you just have to do it.
Call me if you are going to be late - A lot of teens seem to think we don't trust them if we ask them to call and say when they will be home; but if we are running late we call. It is something you do because people love you, and worry about you.
Say what you mean and mean what you say - Don't play games with words. Tell it like it is.
Be the parent - Some people want to be their child's friend but a child needs a parent who will do what's right even when the child doesn't like it.
Don't give in for crying - Children need to know that crying and whining doesn't work. I have seen it too many times. The parent says no 20 times when the child cries and whines for a toy at Wal-Mart. Then the parent gives in. The child learns that if I cry and whine 21 times I will get what I want. With mine they would ask once or twice because they learned that crying doesn't work. Sometimes when they asked I'd say no but then as I was leaving the store, I would get the item. Then I would thank them for not whining and being well behaved in the store. I wouldn't do this on every trip, being good has its own rewards.
Go to the bathroom before we leave - In the beginning, when my children were small, I knew what every restroom looked like in every store in town. I explained that this would stop. When we got to Wal-mart or where ever and someone needed to go to the restroom, we went home and then one of us would go back out and get what we needed. It only took 4 or 5 times till they got the message. Shopping was less stressful after that.
Children make mistakes - It is all apart of growing up.
Don't punish them for being children - They forget sometime what they were supposed to do. Punish only for deliberate disobedience.
Children can be our best teachers - Everyone should be open to learning new things. Children remind us of the wonders all around us.
Listen to your child - They can be so funny when they explain things to you. Listening to their stories will show them that what they say is important to you. Children can be very insightful.
thanks for the heplful tipes I will try to remeber them when I grow up and have children of my own.
#2 by Ruby Hawk, Jun 18, 2008
I could not agree with you more. We should teach our children what is and is not acceptable. I see so many children who's parents do not teach them and they are unpleasent to be around.
I am happy to say that does not include my grandchildren.
