Jurdy Cartoon – No Campaign Leaks

So often I hear people say what good children they have, or one person tell another what a good child they have, and this always gives me pause for thought. What is it that makes a childgood? Is it doing what he or she is told? Being quiet? Not questioning or talking back? And if it is one or all of these things, how do those behaviors bode for the future? You see, good kids are a wonderful thing in the moment, but as we raise our children, aren’t we looking to the future? It seems that our job is not necessarily to raise good kids, but moreover to raise great adults.

Many people mistakenly think that raising good children is the same thing as raising your children to be competent and confident adults. And yet, often these two things are in direct opposition. What we may consider to be good kids are children who are obedient, who do what they are told without arguing or asking questions, who let the adults speak, and who respect authority completely without question. Ask yourself, if these are the traits and behaviors you would want for your adult sons or daughters. Do you want them to accept the authority of those around them without question? To let others do their thinking for them and not think independently for themselves? Do you want them to be followers led by others because they never had the room to find their own voice? Because when you look at it closely this is often what good children are being taught to do.
 
Raising a child to be a great adult takes more patience, more work and the ability to at timescheck your ego at the door. It requires allowing your children to ask questions, even when those questions are about the choices or decisions that you are making. It requires asking your children for their opinion as well as asking them for their solution to the problem. It involves listening to their thoughts and opinions and truly weighing them into your decision making processes, especially when it comes to decisions you are making with regard to them. It also necessitates sometimes changing your mind, particularly if your child presents valid and reasonable information or opinions to the situation in question. And yes, it even requires occasionally admitting that you were wrong.

I am not recommending that anyone put their child in the driver seat and let them run the road or that any parent should let their child speak rudely or disrespectfully or do whatever they want. I am simply pointing out how important it is to find a balance and empower your child to be all of the wonderful things you would like them to be as an adult.

It is so much easier to saybecause I said so orbecause I’m your parent, but your job is not to take the easy road, your job is to raise the best adult that you possibly can. And while it is not always the easy choice, at the end of the day when you little boy or girl is an adult confidently interacting in the world, all of it is worth it.

Learn more at:  http://www.drbobbiemcdonald.com

Jurdy Cartoon – No Campaign Leaks21365Jurdy Cartoon – No Campaign Leaks

Jurdy is a trademark of Jenifer Jurden LLC. All rights reserved.