Spring is in full effect! Now that you’ve done your spring cleaning at the house, we have to do some spring cleaning in ourselves and our relationships with our children. What conclusions have you come to about what type of adult you want your child to be? Did you know those conclusions guide your actions to develop them now into the type of person they’re going to be later in adulthood?
Parents with low expectations, making excuses for their child’s performance in academics, relationships, sports, hobbies, extracurricular activities, life…This attitude contributes to a lifestyle of mediocrity and an entitlement mentality. Children today, adults tomorrow, looking for people to make excuses for them, accept their excuses, and lower standards to meet them where they are, rather than rising to the occasion. Provoke your children to come up higher, to be the standard. Raise the standard by changing your conclusions about your children and your desires for them. Remind yourself that their greatest competition is themselves and daily we should strive to become better versions of ourselves with each step we take.
So, what’s next? Engage in conversation with your child about habits, goals, and things that you’ve observed. What’s their character like? Better yet, take a look in the mirror and take an inventory of your character, habits, goals, and ask your child their observations about you. This can be an eye opening experience, don’t allow fear to keep you from digging deep to confront those things that may have been hindering you. Confront yourself and deal with those blemishes that surface. Your ability to overcome your personal challenges and be vulnerable with your children is a demonstration of your character. Be the example and identify some conclusions that may need to be changed, so that your outcomes can be different.
As always, your feedback is welcomed and appreciated! Let me know how the conversation is going within yourself and with your children. What did you learn? What can you share to help someone else out? I look forward to hearing from you!
Dr. Shameika Moment, Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
I am an educator-adjunct faculty & K-8 teacher, parent advisor, tutor, business owner, and aspiring author. I have taught students in K-12, inside the classroom and in the community from general education to social skills development. I have a passion for helping parents connect with, learn from, and support their children’s academic success and learning. This blog is one of many ventures to provide support for parents as they navigate the course of raising children as a daily responsibility.
Quintessential Knowledge 