Monday, January 11, 2010
Parents – Do You Have Time to be a Good Role Model?
To a large extent, what kind of adults your children will be is determined by what they’ve learned from watching you. So, wouldn’t it be a good idea to truly look at the time and attention you are investing in your children? They grow so quickly and the opportunities of today are gone forever.
This may be the hardest thing you’ve ever done but the benefits are long lasting. So how can you take proactive steps to be a good role model for your children?
Take time to carefully examine what kind of person you want your child to be. Then examine how you can display those characteristics in a consistent way so they can follow your example. You can’t expect something from your children if you yourself don’t have it.
Here are some thought provoking questions to ask yourself.
What values do you want your children to have?
Is it important for your children to be kind, honest, and generous? Then you must show them how with your words, attitudes, and actions.
Is it important for them to learn how to work? Then be patient enough to let them work beside you even if it makes the job three times as long.
Is it important for them to be forgiving? Then they must hear you say, “I’m sorry.”
Is it important for the family to be close? Then you must spend the time and attention needed to make the family close.
Are there things that you wish were different when you were growing up? Make those changes in you now so it will be different for your child.
How will they deal with relationships?
Is it important to be able to solve a problem without violence? Then you must teach them how to talk a situation out calmly, focusing on solving the problem not winning the fight.
Is it important for them to learn how to be committed to a relationship, whether with siblings, friends, relatives, or eventually a marriage mate? Show them how to live up to commitments by keeping your promises to them even when it’s difficult.
How will they care for their physical health?
Is it important that they get daily exercise? Join in with them in doing fun, healthy activities together.
Is it important they eat in a healthy manner? Introduce fruits and vegetables in an appealing way so they develop a love of them. And try to avoid eating junk food on the run.
Is it important that they be involved in life, not just watching it from the couch? You might want to keep a log to see how much time you spend in front of the television versus how much time you read or play games with them.
Simplify your life, so there are fewer demands on you.
Without unnecessary distractions, you can focus time and energy on what is really important. We designed our services at Simplify because we recognized the huge need to outsource some things so that attention can be given to the truly important things of life.
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