What kind of parent are you? Do you have what it takes to raise a well-adjusted child?
Here are some guidelines to get you started:
- You have a sense of humor. Your child sees you making light of things that might just as easily make most people frustrated. Instead of lashing out at other drivers on the road, you find something funny about being stuck in traffic.
- You have a love of learning. We never stop learning. A parent who passes onto their child a love of questioning and learning is helping to create a high-achiever and a life-long learner.
- You love a challenge. Parents who pass this attribute onto their child, have a child that perseveres and does not give up easily. Determination will serve your child well in athletics, academics, extra-curricular activities and life in general.
- You are considerate of others. Your example of empathizing with others will profoundly influence your child's own understanding of how others feel.
- You are involved in your child's school. You don't have to be the P.T.A. President to reap the benefits of this attribute. But you do need to stay in touch and involved with your child's teacher, homework assignments and areas of need.
- You eat dinner as a family. Parents who sit down and eat dinner as a family send a message that they are interested in having a conversation with their child.
- You have a faith system, religion or set of values. These concepts are the foundation for child-rearing. You need them. Don't bury your head in the sand and pretend that you don't need these critical items. Teach values and be the example.
So, what kind of parent are you? Your child is watching.
