Parental Resolution #2: I will think about tomorrow.

Each time the calendar turns over into a new year, we often celebrate by coming up with resolutions. On our lists might be health-related goals, job performance, personal improvement, etc.

This month, I want to challenge you to put four Parental Resolutions on your list. Each week in January, I’ll talk about one of the four major goals that should be on every parent’s list. For help in achieving these goals, I have two upcoming seminars: one in-person option if you’re in Northern Virginia and webinars for those farther away. Plus, you can now connect with me via video on Popexpert.com. Click on the Classes/Speaking tab on my website for details.

Parental Resolution #2: I will think about tomorrow.

When you have children, especially young ones, it’s hard to think five seconds into the future much less five years or longer. But we should be rearing our children with the future in mind.

What does this mean? It means that we

• Don’t take shortcuts when it comes to discipline. Some experts say that parents shouldn’t sweat the small stuff, that it’s not important to correct the first misbehavior. If you ignore the minor infractions, you’ll soon have a raging wildfire on your hands. Don’t let small things mushroom into a much bigger problem. Nip those misbehaviors in the bud when they first rear their ugly heads.
• Don’t focus on the temporary. If we have our eyes fixed on the future for our children, we will be less likely to worry overmuch about their soccer game or their test in school. Those are temporary things, and yes, our children should work to be the best they are capable of, but give kids the freedom to fail without overreacting to the mistake. The things that matter are learning from those mistakes, overcoming obstacles, becoming a good citizen, and caring about others. Keep your eyes on those instead of on the temporary things of today.
• Don’t forget to enjoy your kids. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the busyness of today that we don’t take time to stop and have fun with our kids. They will only be this age for such a short time, we really shouldn’t miss it by over-scheduling, over-committing, and overdoing it each day. Make sure you have plenty of downtime so that you can simply enjoy being around your offspring.

By taking the long view, the one that says “I will parent today with tomorrow in mind,” we can avoid some of the pitfalls of parenting only for the now. Remember, the future will be here before you know it, so keep your focus on the horizon.

Until next time,

Sarah