PARENTING LESSON in nutshell

Fathers are essential to a child’s growth. A child need “a loving father” and “not a successful businessman!”

Despite all the preparations for the delivery, when are never prepared for the time. It’s the rush hour. Wife in Pain. You panic. Wonder if you could drive to the hospital. Wish it gets over.

Time seems to have stopped. And like in the movies, the congratulation and a little gift is placed in your arms.

Can I even hold her? We are not prepared. Even if it’s the third. Ask me, I have for 3 daughters.

All parents need a little advice now and then. Unfortunately the children do not come with an operating manual. We begin a series of articles on parenting basics like discipline, homework help, and how to talk to your child about tough subjects, like pocket money, peer pressure and friends. Plus, we focus on relationships between spouses and in families.

I usually travel around the country and ask parents, “What do you do for your child?”

The most common answers I receive are we pick and drop our children to school, or mothers say we pack their lunch boxes or revise their homework. FAIR enough. But isn’t this an administrative job. This is something any project managers can do as well. What is it that you are doing for your child as PARENTS?

This article is all about self – discovery. About discovering the Parent in Us.

Parenting tip: Family comes first.

A father’s role in a child’s life is more important than we can imagine. A father provides the child with a sense of support system, someone he can trust in the world around him and a source of encouragement.

Why a father and not a mother?

We compare the ratio of mothers to father on almost all our workshops and the findings are similar – Mothers are always more, eager to learn while father is not even present! So, as a father myself, I understand that to raise good smart kids, mother are always involved, it’s time we involve the dads too!

Action Step: Have a 3 (three) point list for your son / daughter, on what you want them to be when they grow up. Stick this list on your fridge and make sure you pray for your child, convey your dreams to your child and then work on an action plan.

Mothers Benefit from Fathers’ Support

If a mother can count on her husband to help with keeping the house clean and in good repair, caring for the children, paying the bills, and planning for the future, she probably will be a happier, more effective parent.

The support a mother receives from her child’s father can even help her be more competent and sensitive when feeding her baby.

Action Step: Tick off the grocery list, order food once in a while or better cook for her and the best thing you can do is talk to her without looking at your mobile phone.
Better switch off your wi-fi when speaking to her!

Father and Small Children

When fathers play with their toddlers, they are not just entertaining them. They are providing a safe, yet challenging arena for toddlers to learn how to interact with the world and with others. Through rough-and-tumble play, fathers create obstacles for their children and demand respect for limits and boundaries. At the same time, they challenge their children and encourage them to explore their own strength, their ability to do new things, and their impact on the world around them.

Parenting tip: It is indeed such a big blessing to be a Parent. Make it count.

Keys:
⦁ Parenting is not an administrative job.
⦁ A strong father – son relationship is the basis of a confident child.
⦁ Despite a difficult life, the family comes first and always.

Gem: The MOST important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother!”

Action Step: Children require ‘quantity time’ too and not just ‘quality time.’ Begin by blocking 15 mins everyday with your kids. ‘Everyday~!’

My 15 minutes bucket list with my children:

⦁ Nurture a hobby with your child like gardening, painting or puzzles (I love puzzles with my daughters!)
⦁ Have clear goals for your child and ensure your prepare your 10 points dream goal
⦁ Spend time at home helping your spouse and once in a while surprise her by ordering food
⦁ Ask your child what she did at school. The best question to a child is, “What did you ask at school today?” This leads to more open ended conversations.
⦁ Read a book or a story together. I am currently reading Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and we are talking about courage. You choose a virtue and get started.

Parenting tip By

The author: Dr Dawood Vaid
Founder, Golden Sparrow Education