The Three C's of Parenting - KGWN –Cheyenne, WY– Scottsbluff, NE News,Weather, Sports

The Three C's of Parenting

Three C's of Parenting:

TIPS

1. Control
•Parents...you are in charge.  It may not seem like it but it's very important for both you and the children to know who is in charge in a home.

•Healthy families are democraticfamilies and democracy operate best when someone is charge.  Everyone should have input and be listened to in a family...but it's important for the children to know you're the boss.
•This does not mean that only one parent is in-charge.  In fact, it's better if both parents share the parenting. But it does mean that children are never in charge.  And that's ok.  Let them be kids for awhile.

•There is a difference between being in control and being controlling as a parent.  Parents who are in control are willing to set limits and establish consequences and awards for good behavior.  Controlling parents use limits and consequences as a hammer...without a concern for their children's individual needs.

2. Compromise
•A family that compromises is a family that's happy.  None of us get what we want all the time.  But one of the best ways to get what we want is to help those we love get what they want some of the time.  

 •Let me be clear... I used the word compromise...I didn't say give in all the time.  As a parent the art of compromise teaches our children flexibility.
•Smart parents recognize their children's thoughts about what's important in life is different from theirs as adults.  Recognizing this difference helps us look for the best and find ways to set up "win...win" situations with our kids.

3.Compassion
•If we said this every week it still wouldn't be enough.  We all make mistakes.  Our kids make them and we parents make them.  When our kids know we care about them they are much more understanding of our mistakes. Just like we are of their mistakes.

•Everything we do as parents is easier when love and caring are a part of it.  You may not feel that way at the time...In fact you may wish you didn't care so much at times.

•But in the end when children know that love is present in a family they respond more positively and grow into much happier adults.