Struggling With Parenting? Active Parents are Fun
By Chris Hammond
Having kids is a blast.
There are so many places to show them, so many things to explore, so
many things to do and so little time. It
seems as if your calendar is always full and it probably is with birthday
parties, trips to the zoo, new playgrounds, play dates with friends, soccer
practices and just going to stores. At
home there are plenty of toys, games, crafts, and most likely an entire room
devoted to the kids where they can play for endless hours. You like all of the activity and encourage
your kid to try new things constantly.
You are an Active
parent. As an active parent, your
favorite questions will be centered around the word “Who”. Who else is going? Who are your friends? Who do you want to be? You are interested in the people in your
kid’s world and usually use your kid’s interaction with others as an indication
of how well adjusted they are. If your
child is like-minded, this conversation is easy but if not your child shuts
down and can’t seem to figure out why this matters so much to you.
The Good. Your kids will not be bored. If anything, they will be exhausted at times
and crave some down time to just sit on the sofa and watch TV. You most likely encourage them to participate
in a wide variety of activities and are not easily upset when your child
changes their mind to a completely different sport. After all, you probably did the same thing as
a child. Regardless of your financial
status, your child will have many adventurous stories to tell, have a lot of
physical activity, and numerous types of friends.
The Bad. Exhaustion from excessive activities and lack
of proper sleep are two of the biggest down sides to active parenting. There will be times when the excessive
activities on your calendar are too much for you and your child to manage so
someone is likely to get disappointed or hurt when you can’t deliver on a
promise. Your promises have a long shelf
life with your child and as they get older, they will remember and remind you
of all broken promises.
The Ugly. Too much activity does not allow time for
recollection, rest, and relaxation so your child may grow up struggling with
finding a balance between activity and inactivity. The numerous friendships that you encouraged
your child to have and maintain may also be overwhelming for them causing them
to run in the opposite direction away from friendships. Finally, your lack of following through on
promises is an unhealthy model for your child who may also grow up making and
breaking promises.
Understanding your parenting style is not about beating
yourself up and or pointing fingers at your spouse. Rather it is about understanding your natural
strengths and weaknesses so you can build on the strengths and minimize the
weaknesses. Remember, active parents are
fun so be fun and minimize the number of broken promises.
