Are you on a quest to be a perfect parent? Me too. We’ll forget about the cheese and crackers I called lunch yesterday and hit restart. Perfection begins here and now, my friends…
Okay, that was a little tongue-in-cheek because we all know there’s no such thing as a perfect parent. Still, we should all strive to be the best parents we can be. First, let’s release the idea of perfection. Next, follow these tips for being the best role model for your kids.
Practice what you preach
If you only follow one piece of parenting advice, it should be this one. Children learn much better by example than they do by lecture. Sure, lectures are sometimes necessary, but you also need to show your kids how things should be done.
If you tell your kids not to smoke as you go through two packs a day, guess what they’ll end up doing? Even when you do a great job of convincing them of negative outcomes, your actions tell them that smoking isn’t so bad.
This doesn’t just go for smoking either. Act in a way you expect your children to act. This means picking up after yourself, avoiding bad words and eating your vegetables.
Show compassion towards others
One of the most difficult things to do is to show compassion towards others who are treating us poorly. Someone cuts you off while you’re driving, and your first inclination is to flip them the bird. It’s human nature, but it’s not something we have to pass down to our children. Imagine how much happier you’d be if you didn’t hold on to hurt feelings.
Show compassion towards everyone in your life, especially when they need it the most. Help your partner through any struggles and practice patience with all the grumpy people you encounter in this world. Your kids are watching and learning.
Find healthy ways to manage stress
Anxiety is a growing problem in our fast-paced society, and we must teach our children how to avoid it. If you can give them the tools to manage stress at an early age, they’ll be better equipped to handle challenges at school and in adult life.
Techniques like yoga and meditation are very effective against stress. And having a regular exercise program can help reduce stress levels. Try to incorporate as many stress-busting activities as you can in a day.
Spend as much time with your kids as your life will allow
Any grandparent will tell you that you merely blink and your child is all grown up. Nearly two decades pass between birth and college, but it feels more like just a few years.
This is one of the best reasons to spend time with your children while you can, but it’s not the only reason. When your child spends time with you, he or she is learning directly from you. This way, you can teach him or her the lessons you feel are important.
When it comes to being amazing parents, let’s not strive for perfection. That’s a lost cause. Instead, let’s teach our children how to become successful adults. Truly, the only way to do this is to lead by example.
