Teaching children respect is a skill that seems to have lost its way in today’s child-centric society. Our youngsters need to have proper boundaries, as well as being shown how to behave in the face of authority.
Sadly, they are being brought up in a culture that allows them to put their needs and desires before those of anyone else and it is down to us, as parents, to try to stem this flood of inconsiderate selfishness.
However, so many parents seem unable or unwilling to bite the bullet, preferring to be their friend rather than their mentor and deliberately sabotaging the efforts of any parent who is willing to stick to their parenting beliefs.
So here is a good checklist of things to bear in mind if you are adamant about teaching children respect.
When your partner is trying to get the kids to do their homework, it is not helpful to stride around the room saying that children should not get homework or that the teacher in question is an idiot. This will only result in it becoming even more difficult to get the homework done because they now have ‘approved’ ammunition for next time.
The continual drip drip of mocking anti-partner propoganda, even if done in jest, is divisive and confidence-eroding and results in children who think it is ok for them to behave in a similarly dismissive fashion towards that parent.
If one partner asks a child to tidy his/her room as a means of helping to instill personal responsiblity, it really defeats the object if the other partner goes up and does the tidying whilst the child plays on the computer/gameboy.
The same applies if tidying the room is a means for the children to earn pocket money and one partner hands out the cash even if the room is still untidy.
When a child is rude to one parent, it really does help if the other parent draws attention to that fact and makes the point that it will not be tolerated.
If one parent feels it is in the best interests of the child not to consume e-number-laden soft drinks and foods, how does it appear to that child if the other parent then complies with their request every time they are out?
The United Front of parents is a well-tested theory that both partners would do well to follow. Nothing useful can be achieved by siding against your partner in front of the children, no matter how much you disagree. This should be discussed later in private.
It’s all part and parcel of teaching children respect.
Teaching respect is something that never goes out of style. In our house being disrespectful or taking a ‘tone’ is the quickest way to punishment land.
But you can only do that because you and your kids know that Hubman will back you to the hilt and maintain the same standards in his own interaction with them. In some ways it would have been better to be a single parent, rather than have someone running continual interference from the bed beside me
As always, Ms. Cake, you are correct in all points!
Thank you x
[...] the essential role for both parents is to be united over the rules regarding attitude. If there are disputed areas, then these should be discussed [...]
[...] the essential role for both father and mother is to be united over the rules regarding behaviour. If there are disputed areas, then these ought to be discussed [...]
[...] the vital purpose for both parents is to be united over the rules regarding attitude. If there are disputed areas, then these ought to be discussed [...]
[...] the essential purpose for both father and mother is to be united over the rules regarding attitude. If there are disputed areas, then these ought to be discussed [...]
[...] the all-important function for both parents is to be united over the rules regarding behaviour. If there are disputed areas, then these ought to be discussed [...]
[...] both mother and father have to stick together when it comes to decisions over their upbringing even if it means privately agreeing to disagree. [...]
[...] both mother and father have to stick together when it comes to decisions over their upbringing even if it means privately agreeing to disagree. [...]