There are some simple, practical solutions, but also some deeper, more lifelong lessons that we can teach our children about responsibility, respect, and the value of a dollar.
“What do you mean you don’t know where your new shoes are? You haven’t even had them for a week!”
Have you ever watched your kid do something, shaken your head and said nothing, hoping that tomorrow things would be different? I know you have – because who hasn’t? We’ve all done it. We’ve all hoped that if we just ignore something, it will stop.
“David’s mom is fat. She needs to go on a diet.” When my sweet kindergartner innocently uttered this line after school one day, I couldn’t hide my shock. After experiencing my own body image ups and downs, I’d tried to protect my young kids from talking about weight loss and dieting. Faking composure, I countered with, “Oh? Um, where did you hear that?”
How does that saying go? “It takes a village to raise a child.” Remember how easy it was to make friends when you were younger? Asking your neighbor to come out and play or joining a game of soccer at recess – it seemed so simple. While we still recover from the global pandemic, our social circles have become much smaller, and for some parents, they have become non-existent.
When we have a community of meaningful friendships, our jobs as parents can be much more fulfilling. We were never meant to do this job alone, and although it may not be as easy as when you were a child, there are still plenty of ways that you can put yourself out there and connect with other parents in the community.
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