You are not just caring for children. You are molding future adults. They will be adults that need to contribute to society and who need to be well-rounded and educated on how to face difficulties that may present themselves from time to time throughout life. Remember, raising future adults just so happens to be one of the most important jobs in the world so you want to put your best foot forward at all times.
Handling Your Own Demons
It is important to make sure that you yourself are handling troubles that you may experience with as much grace and maturity as possible. This means working through your emotions on your own in a healthy manner or by getting the advice of a skilled mental health professional. You do not want to turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with the adult troubles are you are dealing with. Remember that your children are watching. Even if you are not trying to directly teach them this, by turning to substances to handle stress, you are ingraining it in their minds that they need to grow up and do the same. If you already have some trouble with substance abuse, it is time to seek help from a nearby outpatient drug rehab so you can stop this problem in its tracks.
Do Not Provide Too Much Help
It is only natural to want to help your child with something that he or she is struggling with. However, through struggle and frustration comes many learning experiences that they can carry with them throughout the rest of their lives. So, stop helping too much. Instead of starting the lawn mower every time your teen has trouble getting it to start on the first try, take a step back and allow him or her to problem solve this and continue to try until they get it right. This might be a struggle for you at first, but when you keep it up, your teen will learn that they cannot give up and when they strive to solve their own problems, they will be able to bask in the reward of success.
Teach Them It Is Okay To Express Emotion
Happiness, sadness, fear, frustration, anger, and confusion are all things that are perfectly acceptable for your children to express. Of course, you want to make sure that they are always staying respectful and that they are remaining safe, but you will want to encourage them to express themselves. When your children learn how to properly express their thoughts and feelings while you are there to guide them, they will have a much easier time with it as adults.
If you are finding that you are having some trouble with these tips, you can always consult with your doctor, therapist, or other parents for some additional advice. Those who have studied the nature of children and child-rearing, or who have gone through it themselves, will be able to offer you a great deal of assistance. Just remember that no one is perfect and you will make the occasional mistake here and there. The idea is to make sure that you are moving forward and trying to better yourself and the way you raise your children. The more effort you put into this, the better off your children will be now and in the future as they grow into adults.
