Alot of my family (I won't name names)consider my parenting skills "in need of alot of work". (I'm just giving you the nicer version of it). Anyway, I honestly believe they think this, because I don't follow everything they do in a certain way, and the way I do things with my children isn't how they do thing, or think I should do them. One day I made up in my mind that the only opinions that TRULY matter are those of my children.
So tonight, this truly weighed heavy on my mind. And while thinking about that, I just about began to question my own parenting with my children. Just when I was about to rack my brain with that question, my recollection brought me back to a day where I asked my oldest son about this subject. And the response I got shocked the hell out of me. He said: "Mom, you are a strict parent".
I'm sure there are some people who feel that my approach to parenting isn't the best, but who can really tell you other than your own children? Who can honestly look you in the eye and say that your parenting is good or bad other than your own children? If you really think about it, your children are the direct participants of your parenting, because they have to follow your rules, etc.
So for the parent out there, (if your children are old enough) I challenge you to ask them if you are doing a good or bad job as their parent, and listen to what they have to say. You never know how you're doing until you have the talk.
Until then, keep the lines of communication open. They will thank you for that later on.
Peace & Blessings,
Untouched Jewel
1 comment:
I think you have come a long way I truly do. No one comes here a parent some get better with time but...in this world it truly does take a village to help you raise your children especially young boys. When there is no male role model consistently in a young black mans life who does he have to look up too? Who does he have to ask about women, and dating, and how a man should act and be? While I know that there are many black women who raise men, it still is no substitute for having a positive male role model to combat being raised by a woman and being around nothing but women. At the end of the day you don't have to answer to anyone but your children about your parenting skills this is true, but every little bit helps. Often time when a person is looking in from the outside they can see things that you can't see because you're too close to the situation. We all do the best we can, and if your path is not the same as someone else's then so be it.
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