Parenting

 

                Being a parent is truly something I have wanted for a few years now. The thoughts of starting a family with my wife I can think of no happier feeling. What’s the purpose of parenting? This was asked in class this week. My understanding is that parents should be mentors to their children how to make it through this life. In addition, to learning how to thrive, they should provide protection and show them what it takes to live in their world.

                What types of things do children need? A parent should show their children how to respect, not only themselves, but others too. I would say this is vitally in important to learn for when they are of teen age. In my teens, I never learned to respect myself. When I was of age to date. I gave freely my trust, love, time and my heart to girls that didn’t really deserve it. these things are gifts and should only be given when yourself are respected.  The second thing a child needs is to know how to cooperate with others. Kids need to know what its like work with people. It goes without saying that people are apart of our lives. As social beings we, should teach out children to be social able. To me this means being agreeable, learning how to compromise (in a marriage that’s super important), and learn how to understand others. To cooperate doesn’t mean to go along with everything somebody says, but to be their only person and lend their unique spin on things will grant them large fulfillment. Lastly, a child needs responsibility. I grow up in home that wasn’t too set on chores. I did clean here and there, but nothing was set in stone. Because of this I had a harder time as an adult to commit myself to be responsible. I thought having responsibilities was stressfully and I could do without it. If you love your children give them responsibility, this will grant the opportunities to challenge themselves and grow. This will help them be reliable and let others know they can be trusted.

                We all know that kids are going to make mistakes. Shoot, we adults always make them too. How are we going help are children push forward when they do mess up? Punish them when do something wrong. Reward them when they do the right thing? I say no, to both! If there is one thing, I learned punishments and rewards only focus on behavior not the child. Parenting beyond that scope of conditional parenting and love them. The best I have gotten out of this semester is we only start failing as a parent when we stop loving our kids. Sometimes we are so focused on correction and we are so far from the thing we need to focus on. Which are our hearts and our way of being. We must allow natural consequences be there to teach them what choosing wrong does. With the simple guideline that as parents we must safeguard them from doing something too dangerous. Too often I think parents feel they need to seem wise and look unflawed. However, I saw if we would get off of our high horse and tell them you’re still trying yourself. Takes the pressure off they have to be something they’re not or reach a status that we ourselves can’t reach. The most important things we do as parents won’t be the things that generate cash.

                I know that I will be a parent one day, but until then I envy so many of you have that experience.