If children picked parents
September 30, 2008 by Megan · 6 Comments
…. If children could pick the parents they wanted would your children pick you? If no, what small changes do you need to make to your parenting to become a pickable parent?
Children love security, secure attachment, routine, safety and fun. While kids are exposed to media and marketing they will always want more physical comforts and trendy gear…however, their wants are superficial and under that is a desire, a right, to be kept safe. Knowing that they can act the goat, risk take and explore within the confines of a parental safety watch is something that develops autonomy, thinking and resilience…something that we all want for our children.
Child safety and child protection are a changed mind culture: a bias that enforces the overall safety of the child is addressed in every single thing you do. If you are hanging with people/family who interfere with your child protection bias then you are harming your children.
Is your child safe? Think child protection first and you will become a pickable parent.
Do not forget The Teddy Tour.
Why not involve the kids in making a Teddy to send in for a survivor to put their story tag on.
The development of empathy and helping kids to help others
is one of those things that make you a pickable parent.
About Megan
Wow – What a question.
I like it.
Thank you, Megan.
I was raised with the fear factor, the old belief of “spare the rod, spoil the child”.
My kids might have chosen me, if they could, on most days, but probably not all of them! The husband and I still hear stories of their childhood, and few we would rather not!
Birdwing
hard question – seeing as our 15 year old is adopted and we picked him …and now he clearly tells me I am not his mother.
I am not sure which of his friends parents he would pick …maybe the one who spoils the single child and lavishes upon him every whim.
I know my two years old would chose me every time and that is a grand feeling.
Interesting to turn the tables on parents and think of the question from that angle. I think on MOST days my children would answer yes!
Brief & to-the-point! Good Post!
Hello all of you…I have been over the top busy and just couldn’t get five minutes to respond. I do apologise.
A: I pick you. I want to be a freak when I grow up. Mxxxxx
K: lol…do you recognise that this question grew from one of our Innisfail drive talks?
T: At least those gorgeous blonde boys adore you. Master 15 year old is just doing his job so don’t stress too much. The task of adolescence is separation and there’s few teens who would chose their own parents. Also – parents that continually give are not readily respected by teens they are instead used by the teens. You have guided your big boy well and how lucky for him that you picked him. He has a great Mum
PQ: Yeah, turning the question around is certainly a thought provoking exercise. I asked my son if he would pick me as a parent and he strongly resounded – NO! To add insult to injury, he followed up with picking his step father!!!! Go figure. I bet I could ask him again tomorrow and get a positive answer to me making his team.
SZ: Thanks for the feedback. I like quick and to the point posts but I often have so much to say that my short becomes looooong.