Parenthood, A Most Fulfilling Role
Parenthood – A Rewarding Role
Parenthood is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding role for an individual. It is a gift and a privilege that not everyone enjoy. Coupled with the privilege however is a great responsibility, the responsibility to bring up the children to become productive and mature individuals that are dependable and accountable for their actions to themselves and to society as a whole.
Parenthood is fraught with a lot of challenges as a child progress from infanthood to adulthood. The most essential element of parenthood to ensure that their children will develop into an individual that they can be proud of is to make them feel loved and secure in their parents’ love even during trying moment. Parents need not be “perfect” parents, only be good and loving parents.
Here are some tips on how to make your children feel loved and secure in your love:
Constant demonstration of affection
In the course of a child’s development parents should constantly show their children signs of affection such as giving them a lot of hugs, cuddles and kisses. Physical touch is an important element in the proper development of a child. A child who has had a lot of loving touches from parents in the course of their development will mature to be caring and loving individuals themselves.
Tell them you love them
Do not only show them, tell them that you love them every chance you get. Even adults need the reassurance of love verbally expressed.
Give them unconditional love
Do not make children feel that they can only earn your love when they are good. Give them unconditional love. Make them realize that you love them even when they are at their worst.
Be an involved parent
Be involved in your children’s life. Be interested in every endeavor of a child, at home, at play and at school. Attend PTA meetings, watch their football or baseball practice and games, get as excited as your child for school programs or presentations where they have a role even only as a pumpkin. Make your children feel that they can tell you all their small and big issues without the risk of being admonished or reprimanded.
There are so many more ways to make your child feel loved and secure in your love. To some parents these come instinctively. The most important thing to remember is that a well loved child is a happy child.
Unconditional Parenting
Unconditional Parenting – A Novel Approach to Parenting
Unconditional parenting advocates that a parent’s love for their child is not dependent on their child’s actions, in contrast to parenting with chastisements and incentives. Children need unconditional love. They should feel secure enough that whatever they do a parent’s love will always be there for them. The chastisement and reward system is almost like telling the child that they need to earn a parent’s love, that they will only feel the love and care of their parent when they are good.
Unconditional parenting means meeting the needs of children rather than attempting to control children with chastisement and incentives. When the needs of children are met they more likely will feel secure in their parents love, be more compliant and mature into responsible, competent individuals.
Parents who practice unconditional parenting consider that chastisement of any kind will make children feel estranged and unloved. Even time – outs, considered as the ideal non-violent form of chastisement can lead to a feeling of being not accepted and deserted by their family.
In lieu of time-outs, unconditional parenting advocates a time-in. When a child is misbehaving or in a tantrum, this usually is a sign that a child needs more attention from their parents. Devoting time to bond and reconnect with a child through physical contact such as hugging, kissing, cuddling, and rocking a child in a rocking chair will almost always pacify an upset child. This will also teach a child empathy and gentleness.
Most often tantrums are due to the unmet needs of a child. To avert tantrums, a parent practicing unconditional parenting should pay attention to the signs and be more sensitive to the unmet needs of a child. When the child is in a tantrum, unconditional parenting requires that parents discern what the unmet needs are rather than chastise a child. Many times the cause of a tantrum is simple hunger, thirst or lack of sleep.
