How does the saying go? “It takes a village to raise a child.” Pandemic parenting has led to smaller villages and an appreciation for the parenthood communities we were used to surrounding ourselves with. You may be feeling isolated or alone, but how do you seek out new friendships?
Sometimes, in conversation, your child hits the nail on the head. They come out with an absolute truth, but one you or your child’s teacher does not want to hear. Your child may ask you why they get in trouble for yelling, yet you yell all the time. Your child, who is being reprimanded in class, may ask their teacher why the ‘good’ student in class never gets reprimanded for doing the same thing they did. They may wonder why, if hitting is wrong, sometimes a parent hits a child as punishment.
Growing up, I had a close relationship with my grandparents and have wonderful memories of our time spent together. My grandma loved to teach me about plants, and we’d play card games and cook together. My grandpa took me camping, fishing, and was always sneaking me extra dessert. Grandparents and their grandchildren have a special bond. This bond will look different for each family, but there are some ways you can build and encourage the bond between your kids and their grandparents.
I’m not a parenting expert, though I have spent over 25 years working as an expert in adult learning and leadership, helping shape leaders from classrooms to boardrooms. Through this work, I have been able to adapt how I approach parenting in my home to set my children up for success as future leaders.
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