As a parent it is your job to raise and help your child to feel worthy, loved and valued. Your child likely looks up to you for guidance on how to navigate the world, and if you can lead by example in a healthy, encouraging way, your child will want to do that too, and that can help bolster your child’s sense of self-esteem. Previously, we did an article on how you can help your child become resilient, and if you’re interested, click here to read that article which may give you good pointers on helping your child become more confident and resilient in the face of adversity.
Drawing from your own experience from when you were a teenager, you know that time of life can be particularly tough. Being a teenager has its ups and downs, as they start coming to realize who they are and who they might want to be in the future. Between school, social events, puberty, dating, and applying to college, it’s easy for them to get overwhelmed, and some of that is normal.
But how do you know if their stress, feelings, or anxiety isn’t normal?
Unfortunately, mental illness can begin to strike kids when they arrive into their teenage years. Determining whether what they are feeling is typical teen “angst” or something more can be challenging for parents. If you’re lucky, then maybe your teen has talked to you about what they’re feeling and how they are coping, but for many parents, the opposite is true. Maybe your teen is withdrawing from people, struggling with school or there are other signs that they just aren’t doing too well and you feel helpless or unsure of how to approach the situation with them, and that’s understandable.
How many times have you found yourself scrambling and stressed out as a parent? Odds are, its likely more often than you might like, and around the holidays, it may be even more so. As parents, we want the best for our children and will do anything we can for them to make their lives better. Our world revolves around them, and it’s easy to lose sight of who you were or who you are when you’re focusing solely on your kids. It’s important though, to create and maintain a self-care ritual for yourself too, so that you can be at your best for your kids. See where we’re going with this?
In order to care for your children the way they deserve to be cared for, you have to pay attention to yourself too.
Think of it like this: you put your phone on the charger each night because it’s useless if it’s dead, right? You put gas in your vehicle when the tank is low because you need it to reliably take you where you need to go, right? Taking care of yourself, and carving out time for yourself works much the same way.
Below are some tips for helping you learn how you can create a self-care ritual that works for you!
When your child gets sick or hurt, it can be challenging to figure out whether they need an urgent care or the emergency room for a visit. During situations like these, both parents and children can get very stressed out and not think clearly about what is happening which is only natural.
As you begin to consider whether your child’s illness or injury is an emergency or not, always make your first call to your child’s pediatrician for guidance unless it’s a true 911-emergency where life safety is threatened. Pediatricians can offer a wealth of information and can help with any general questions you may have as they know your child best.
As a parent, one of the most important jobs you have is knowing how to discipline your child and teach them what behavior is and is not appropriate. This is one of the toughest parts about being a parent, and as much as you don’t want to get upset with your child, there are going to be times where you will be. There are many different approaches to disciplining your child in a healthy way that includes positive re-enforcement, emotional control, and keeping your children safe when they misbehave.
Today we’re going to talk about how to discipline your child in a healthy way that promotes understanding, modeling appropriate behaviors, as well as setting limits and consequences and being consistent in your approach.