As a parent it’s important to make sure that you are there for your kids. This is always going to be about more than just handling the basic aspects of development. Here are some of the other steps that you should take.
Show Up Every Time
One of the most important things that you can do for your kids is show up for them. You have got to show up every single time. You have got to show up when it’s difficult, when you have had to move things around to make it possible, or even when it seemed impossible. When there are mountains in your way, you move them because you have got to do whatever you can to be there when they need you. In some cases, it’s simply going to be that they need your calming presence in order to make sense of what is going on in their head. Other times it’s going to be because they need you at the big game to support them. No matter what, you need to show up.
The support of parents is massively understated in the world today. Kids with parents that don’t show up are often the ones who have the worst problems and turn to the most destructive behaviors as they have no one to guide them. If you notice that your child is showing signs of self destructive behavior, take a look at something like Sunshine Behavioral Health and see if it can help.
Don’t Be Afraid To Have Hard Conversations
The hard conversations are often the ones that need to be had the most. These are the ones about how you are all feeling, and they are not always pleasant to have. But, you have got to have them otherwise your child is only going to be internalizing the way that they feel. This can lead to negative consequences on the mental health of your child which is the last thing that you need.
The hard conversations might not be fun, but you can’t appear uncomfortable. If you do, your child is going to notice and not talk to you about it again. You have got to be open and honest the same way that you would expect them to, and show them that it is okay to talk about things like this.
Stick To Your Word
You should always make sure that you remain honest with your kids. It’s important to do this from an early age. Being honest with your child will help teach them good morals and ensure that they don’t fall into the bad habit of lying themselves. Do be aware that this isn’t just about ensuring that you don’t lie to them. It’s also important to make sure that they don’t catch you in a lie with other people. This is another way you can accidentally show children, and particularly young children, that lying is okay or acceptable.
One of the ways that you can help children understand the importance of telling the truth is by making sure that you always keep your word when you are speaking to them. This is another way you can make sure that they don’t catch you out in a lie. This can be as simple as being there when you say you will or doing something that you promise. If you aren’t sure that you can match a commitment, then don’t make it in the first place. It’s important that children feel they can trust what you say.
Let Them Make Their Own Mistakes
Finally, you need to make sure that you are letting your children make their own mistakes rather than always directly leading them down the path that they should follow. Letting your children make their own mistakes is always going to be a fundamental aspect of development. At the same time, this is very much a balancing act. If you feel like your child is heading down a dark path, then you should certainly step in and correct it. But harmless mistakes that can be learning points should be left to play out.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to do in order to be there for your kids. It’s about more than just providing the basics such as food, clothes and somewhere to live. Being there for your kids means that you have got to be consistent in your actions and your affection towards your children. Trust us when we say that it’s the best thing you will ever do for them.