EasierParenting

“Do as I say, not as I do.” We all know that this approach will fail and yet it is so easy to preach to our kids and so difficult to correct our own behavior. I want my kid to tell me about what he did at school but do I have patience to tell him about my experiences at work? I want him to be enthusiastic about the opportunity to study and grow but do I come home and complain about my own routine? The solution is obvious: be a role model to your child. Watch this video and refresh your determination to be a worthy mentor to your teen.

Share with your kid an experience of something you learned today. Rediscover how it is to demonstrate how you want your kid to behave by being a model in your behavior first. Be enthusiastic (not always easy!). Then get into a conversation with an adult at home or on the phone. Tell them what you learned from this video and what you promise to do from now on. Make sure your kids overhear you. You can walk around the house with a wireless phone to make sure they do. (Sneaky!)

What a relief to change direction! Now is the time to have that conversation with your partner where you are only exclaiming with delight about your teen's good qualities and the positive things you noticed that day. Believe me, there will be plenty of time for the negative on another day.