Cutting Our Kids (and Ourselves) Some Slack

Date: 2011.01.20 | Category: Parenting, The Brain | Tags: emotionally responsive parenting,helping kids make good choices,patience

Try to remember that your child’s brain is still under construction.  They can’t be perfect all the time, yet without realizing it, we often expect perfection.  During times you feel increasingly frustrated with your child, remember that most of the time they are doing the best they can at that particular moment.  And be gracious with yourself, because you’re usually doing your best as well.  This doesn’t mean we don’t have high expectations for our kids, or that we don’t require them to be responsible and do what they’re supposed to do.  It also doesn’t mean we don’t take time to understand ourselves more deeply in order to parent more intentionally.  It just means that we need to be patient, understanding, and forgiving—with our children, and with ourselves.