Wednesday, January 27, 2010

On being a parent

I loved this!!! I hope you do too.
Namaste,
Michele

ps Thanks Miles of Smiles for the picture!!!



There are many signs that parents aren’t doing a good job as parents. All you have to do is look around at the millions of people living out the results of their own bad parenting to know that. Take a moment and look at these ten signs and evaluate how you are doing:

Ten Signs You Are A Bad Parent

If you don’t know where your child is right now,
you are a bad parent.

If your child is obese,
you are a bad parent.

If your child has a television in their bedroom,
you are a bad parent.

If you don’t know your child’s friends,
you are a bad parent.

If you tolerate disrespect from your child verbally or physically, you are a bad parent.

If you promise consequences for either good behavior or bad behavior and don’t deliver, you are a bad parent.

If you don’t teach your child about money,
you are a bad parent.

If you don’t have open, honest communication with your child about sex; the dangers, consequences and joy of it,
you are a bad parent.

If your grown child still lives at home and mooches off you,
you are a bad parent.

If your own life is an example of what you don’t want your child to grow up and become, you are a bad parent.

Some of you are now spewing and sputtering and shouting “yeah but” at me because your kids are great yet they have a TV in their room or are overweight or blah, blah, blah-de-blah-de-blah! Okay, you can tell yourself that, and since I don’t know you or your kid I’ll step back and give you the benefit of the doubt. But I still don’t believe you. Just because you don’t see the harmful results of your action or inaction today, doesn’t mean that you won’t later.

“But I genuinely LOVE my kids Larry!”

I’m sure you do. But we have to stop pretending that the definition of being a good parent is “loving your child.” Parenting is MORE than love. Parenting is loving your child enough to make sure you produce a responsible, productive fit adult who lives a life steeped in honesty, integrity and respect. An adult with a strong work ethic who knows how to give her word and keep it even when it isn’t convenient. A person who knows how to be financially responsible by earning, investing, saving, giving and enjoying their money. That requires communication, involvement, education, discipline and punishment. It requires work. Love without the actions to back it up doesn’t really mean much.

If you want proof about the damaging effects of these ten signs and more, read my book, Your Kids Are Your Own Fault: A Guide For Raising Responsible Productive Adults. Go to www.yourkidsareyourownfault.com

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