Six common parenting mistakes to avoid

Children always need some form of guidance (Shutterstock)

Parenting can be quite challenging. You are basically in charge of someone else’s life and they fully depend on you. And in a world where everyone feels very entitled to impose their opinion on how you are raising your kid, it gets even more challenging.

We do love our little humans very much but sometimes looking after them gets so hard that all we want is to just scream or cry, or both.

But fear not because that’s what parenting is all about and it’s all worth it. I mean, nothing can explain the joy we experience when our children smile back at us.

Unfortunately, in trying to be the perfect parent sometimes we mess up and cross the boundaries. In return we end up blaming ourselves when something bad happens to our kids, and we feel like failures when our kids fail or get hurt and all this is perfectly okay.

Be assured you’re not alone in this emotional rollercoaster. Here are some common parenting mistakes to watch out for.

i.Fixing problems

As a parent, you want to ignore the wrong things your kids do and honestly this could cost you a lot. Don’t ignore issues but rather address them and hand out punishment if and when necessary.

Remember, what you entertain sends a strong message to your kids and they grow up with those values.

For those things that are too big for our kids to solve, help them when they need or ask for your assistance. As for the smaller things, teach them, guide them and let them learn to do them by themselves.

ii.Unrealistic expectations

We all want our kids to be the best at school, games and at home but this is quite unrealistic. Each child is unique and has different strengths.

Don’t impose your expectations on how they perform, act or dress. They are not you or a replica of you. Don’t try to live through your child or make up for past mistakes and regrets by forcing them to pursue dreams or careers that you had wished for because this is their life and you need to let them create their own path.

You need to be flexible with your child as being too rigid will only injure your relationship with them (Shuttertstock)

iii.Fighting back

Yes, kids get on our nerves at times but this is not ground for you to talk back or fight them.

Remember, you are the adult and you have the power even during heated arguments to keep calm and send them to their rooms if you must until you are in a position to deal with the issue.

Never forget that in the situation they get hurt while you were boiling in anger you will be the one responsible as you are in a better position to control your emotions than they are.

iv.Not having rules

You cannot raise a child without rules. They need some form of guidance.

Make sure you have realistic rules and boundaries for your family. This is the best way to instil the values you want your child to grow up with.

The worst thing you can do as a parent is having no rules as this will mean that your child will not be able to obey their school authority or society and as much as you think you are being liberal; they will end up in trouble and will blame you for it.

v.Being rigid

Children are quite unpredictable and, therefore, you need not to be rigid. Be flexible with issues if they make sense. Being rigid will make your child scared of you and you will not have a good parent-child relationship.

vi.Don’t dismiss their feelings

Be accommodative of their feelings and opinions even if you don’t agree with them. This is a great way to have a relationship with them. This is how you build your child’s communication and confidence. If you are dismissive of them then they will learn not to express themselves as they will be feeling unvalued.