Although we think our children are smart and responsible and should know better – guess what? Sometimes they miss the mark. We can rant and rave as well as punish and restrict but let’s remember, like us, they are being perfected and it will not always be a smooth process. Think back to when you were their age. How many weird and silly things did you do? When I look back on my teenage years I ask myself what I was thinking when I made some of the decisions I made! It’s a wonder I made it out of those years!

As parents we are harder on our children than anyone else and yet it is our kind words our children need to make them feel secure and loved. When they do something you disapprove of, before going off, step back a minute and think about how bad is this? Does it warrant a tongue lashing or a discussion to understand what they were thinking to make them do that thing in the first place? Sometimes a child needs to understand why that choice was not the best choice and you have an opportunity to change that thought process instead of just punishing and little Tiffany gets craftier in hiding her actions the next time. It is not about raising a child to be your friend but those days of, “do what I say and not what I do” are gone. Our children are much more mature than we were and if you want a different result – why not try something different? Before you know it, the arguments and strife will lessen and that child who used to always work your last nerve is now a mature teen that brings you joy!

With love,
Min. Nish