As soon as infants arrive, adults have to adopt new roles: they become parents. This is a wonderful feeling and at the same time a huge responsibility. After all, parents are not only required to give their children love, but also orientation in life, knowledge about social and cultural customs, and other "teachings". This quickly gives rise to the question: how strict must parents be? Does consistent parenting perhaps even harm the relationship? You can find out more here!
The popular opinion is: children need rules in order to orientate themselves. This gives them a clearly defined framework within which they can develop. It is important to consider how parents can communicate their requirements clearly and authentically without offending others.
Of course this is not so easy, after all we do not want to upset anyone. However, this often means the dilemma becomes even greater: we do not clearly formulate what the issue is and what we really want. We seek excuses and hide behind explanations, before (personal) responsibility is finally given – when parenting children, no clear line can be drawn in this way.
This unsettles everyone involved and ultimately leads to more frustration than simply providing an honest answer or stipulation straight away.
Such back and forth creates confusion, especially among children. If parents enforce a demand one time and give in the next, children will not know what rules they should stick to and what they can be sure of.
As parents, we naturally always want only the best for our little ones. And in times of excessive consumption in particular, finances rarely force us to say no (when it comes to sweets, for example). But sometimes you may be overcome by a guilty conscience later on – it is not only you that suffers, but also those around you.
Finding a healthy balance between yes and no and establishing a clear line that cannot be crossed is a tough task. Countless books on the subject of leadership styles and an almost inconceivable array of management seminars demonstrate this in the professional environment.
But being a parent and an educator is not mutually exclusive: you guide your children through life and teach them by example. Not every parent finds this easy at first – but as the saying goes: you rise to the challenge!
Tips on how to establish clear rules and your own parenting style:
Photos: Unsplash; Shutterstock