Email of the Day: Parenting is Simple, But It’s Not EASY

I’ve always said “parenting is simple, but it’s not EASY.” I’ve learned that if you start these three things when they’re young, you’ll admire your kids as they mature:

1. Keep it consistent. No means no, yes means yes. No is NOT a negotiation. Rules are rules. They don’t waver or change.

2. Teach them the “earn it” principle. They’ll never question why they can’t have something – they’ll earn it and appreciate it more.

3. There are consequences. That’s a fact for everything you do, good and bad. Think about it before you do it.

When the kids turned 12, we had family meetings once a month to discuss how they felt things were going as a household. If they thought something should change, we’d listen to their reasons why and then asked what their solution was and how they came to that conclusion. Based on the discussion and how carefully they thought out their argument, some adjustments might be made (but sometimes not). This gave our kids the chance to have a voice that was heard, gave them the skills to evaluate a situation, and learn what was just emotion and what was a real goal, dilemma or issue. Parenting was easy when we all knew the consistent plan and did our part. I was a young, 21-year-old mom, with no college education and no real great parental examples, but somehow I had the strength to know that the three simple things I mentioned would pave the way for a good life.

Valerie

Parenting is Simple, But It’s Not EASY