One of the most difficult parts of being a father is learning to accept your children's mistakes. It certainly can be easy to be loving, supportive, and helpful when your children are mistake-free, but most fathers who are paying attention don't find too many mistake-free periods of their
children's lives.
Let's be clear about our kids and their mistakes. There aren't too many kids who get up in the morning, rub their hands together and say," I wonder how I can screw up today and really bother my dad!" Kids don't enjoy or want to make mistakes, it's just one of the ways that they learn about the world.
Kids usually try to do their best; but they're doing their best considering the resources they have at the time. Sometimes they're tired, sometimes they're easily distracted, and sometimes they're strong-willed, but they generally do the best they can. It's quite easy for us to unfairly judge them according to their best efforts in the past.
When our kids make mistakes, we have choices to make. Fathers can either make choices that help to create kids who are defensive and who lie to them ?or they can make choices that help to create kids who can learn from their mistakes and improve upon them.
Kids who fear punishment or the loss of love in response to their mistakes learn to hide their mistakes. These children live in two different places--one place where they have the love and support of their father (parents), and another where they feel that if their mistakes were discovered, they would be undeserving of that love. It's hard for these kids to fully accept their parents' love and support even when it is expressed. It's also difficult for these kids to set high standards for themselves, because they tend to be fearful of failing.
These are some ideas for fathers who are committed to helping create kids who can learn from their mistakes, and who are not afraid of making a few:
Absolutely accept the notion that your kids are doing their best, and that they'll learn faster about their mistakes if they are in an environment that accepts mistakes.
Understand that your difficulty with your kids' mistakes is in fact a reflection of your difficulty dealing with your own mistakes; be aware of this and deal with your own issues first.
Know the shaming messages that we can all give so easily to our kids--messages that can do a lot of damage to them and help them to feel unworthy. Here's a few of them:
- How could you have done that?
- You don't listen to me!
- You can do better than that!
- What's the matter with you?
Keep providing your kids with learning experiences, but at the same time structure their environment so they can't make too many mistakes (having expensive glassware around the house where children might break it is not their fault).
Provide a great model for your children by the way you react to making mistakes: do you get defensive and stretch the truth, or do you own the mistake and learn something from it? Create a culture that's based on learning from mistakes.
We only have one chance to show our kids the patience and discipline necessary to allow them to learn from the mistakes that we've all made. Your opportunity to improve just started now; give your kids the room that they need and deserve.
Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, coaches busy parents by phone to balance their life and improve their family relationships. For a FREE twenty minute sample session by phone; ebooks, courses, articles, and a FREE newsletter, go to http://www.markbrandenburg.com. or email him at http://www.markbrandenburg.com..
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carUnder the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
This may come as a surprise, but many parents are... Read More
Would you hand a child calculus problems once she was... Read More
Once upon a time there was a beautiful bird whose... Read More
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent or teacher more... Read More
Prioritize. Learn to say No. Steal some time for yourself.Don't... Read More
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
Children think money grows on trees. Maybe not literally, but... Read More
A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games... Read More
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits.... Read More
The purpose of this article is to address some of... Read More
Part of the responsibility of being a father is to... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
Many of us have grown up drinking caffeinated diet sodas... Read More
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More
Parental Alienation Syndrome was probably first identified and codified by... Read More
Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools,... Read More
Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More
Ever blown your top to your children, only to regret... Read More
Q: My husband and I are at a loss as... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
College is one of the largest expenses through the course... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..When it comes to the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity... Read More
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
The back-to-school shopping is done. Brand new pencils, colored markers,... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
One of the implications of the current trend toward smaller... Read More
If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More
Although it might seem pretty corny to a lot of... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
Giving advice to a teenager is very easy; getting a... Read More
It is extraordinary times that we find ourselves in. Change... Read More
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I... Read More
Have you heard the song; "I Hope You Dance"? It... Read More
What is Happening in the brain of children, teens, and... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Many public schools not only fail to educate our children,... Read More
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was... Read More
Search for Assurance: The Power of BelongingThe job hunt is... Read More
Bearers of life, wipers of noses, givers of unconditional love... Read More
There are moments in a parent's or grandparent's life, when... Read More
In the last 20 years we've all been introduced to... Read More
Is it hard to communicate with your teenager about issues... Read More
'And all because of a damned cat! It's only a... Read More
You can learn a lot from children.The best part of... Read More
In my opinion, these things matter...1. Enjoying childlike delights before... Read More
Parenting |