Does you little child ever look at you with immense frustration and exclaim, “why me, mommy?” What do you say? Did she hear me say that just the other day when I lost the $200 I had saved up to splurge on this useless gadget?I think that a lot of what your child does or says is learned behavior. You pour positive into their cup, they drink positive. It isn’t about protecting them from the real world or teaching them to escape the realities of life ahead but empowering them with the ability to handle situations without feeling victimized. Over the years, I have learned that victims are in a position of weakness and dealing with a situation from a position of weakness is very cumbersome. So how exactly do you empower a child?
I’m still learning but a few nuggets along the way:
- You set the right example for children follow actions not just words.
- You set boundaries for discussions. Remember that at the end of the day, you are the parent and have more experience than your child. It is not usually the content but the delivery of the message that makes the impact.
- You treat your child with respect. I had no idea that I could make my point without having to use nasty verbeage.
- You help your child to focus on positive aspects of any situation. You do allow them to feel sad and upset for you cannot slash a natural emotion, but you help them overcome by redirecting that negative energy by recognizing potential positive lessons.
More to come.