Lesson 1: The Parental Role
Being a parent is a complex and demanding job. Too often for many of us it is also frustrating and challenging. This lesson will guide you through a self assessment of how your own behaviors impact your child's development.
Children: A Mirror of Our Own Behavior
Children mirror our own behaviors. Their first observations and lessons in character development, sexual identity and anger management come directly from us. Yet we forget that they watch and listen to almost everything we do.
We tell them we expect them to be honest, trustworthy and responsible. Then, when we lie, break a promise or forget to do something that was important to them, they rightfully become angry and mistrustful.
Our relationships with others offers them their first look at how people interact with each other.
Exercise: How do you honestly see your behavior? Take some time and think about what messages your actions send your children.
This was, and is a difficult thing for me to do. Like most of us, I've had my "moments" of anger and other not so nice behavior. However, because I want to be a good parent, someone they will love and respect, this self-assessment is crucial.
Being a wife, homeschooling mom, and full time writer, I know how hard it is to always be aware of how I am impacting my kids. More often than I care to admit, I have given into frustration and stress. The big difference is I talk openly about it with my boys. If I’m wrong, I apologize. They usually rush to reassure me I wasn’t wrong, it was because... I just as firmly tell them, no, I was wrong.
By holding my own behavior accountable with them, as they watch me struggle with my own flaws and mistakes, they have grown enormously. We have moved from “Don’t do as I do, do as I say”, to a much more honest and open communication.
Something To Think About: How hard is it for you to admit when you are wrong?
