5 Things People Who Are NAILING This Parenting Thing Do for Their Kids

Here’s What To Do To Make Sure You’re Nailing It With This Parenting Thing!

1. Allow small interruptions.

I’ve come to learn that even the smallest of interruptions have while the impact on my little one, and they even give me a moment to refocus. Whether you’re on your computer, working on a project around the house, or even just watching your favorite sports team on television, giving your kids the blessing to interrupt you every once in awhile is a wonderful thing.

Not only does it show them you care, but it reminds them of how important they are to you, even if the interruption only lasts a few minutes. Time and time again, I’ve found myself inspired and refocused after leaving my computer to go play ball or blocks with my son, that is after he’s walked up to me with eyes that are just impossible to say no to. This doesn’t happen every time, but I make he sure knows that more times that not, dad is always available to play and spend time with, even if just for a moment. That’s one of the things that make me feel most like I am nailing it.

2. Give your kids individual attention.

My wife and I are expecting our second son at the end of this year and we could not be more excited. But along with this excitement comes the fear of making one child feel less loved than the other. How do we balance our time? What if our older son gets jealous and resentful?

We’ve realized that we’re not always going to be able to live up to our kids’ individual expectations in life, but that we can do our best to give each child the individual attention they need on top of spending time with their sibling. This may be exercised by taking one child to get ice-cream with dad while the other goes to the park with mom, or even something as small as doing a puzzle together while the other sibling is taking a nap. Regardless of what the adventure looks like, each kid is going to be looking for individual attention, and balancing this time correctly is going to make for happy and encouraged children no matter how small the amount of time is.

3. Constantly remind your kids how much you love them.

I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve met who said that they rarely ever heard their parents tell them they loved them, let alone showed any type of affection to them growing up. I was raised in such a polar opposite environment, and I don’t know how I would have responded otherwise. Something about not telling your children you love that just doesn’t make sense to me, and I cannot imagine what that must feel like being on the receiving end. Kids need to hear they are loved. Kids need to hear that they are wanted.

There is something so comforting about hearing your mother and father tell you that they love you. And there is something so peaceful and safe-feeling about being embraced with a warm hug. I believe this type of affection truly sets your kids up for success in life, and ensures that you’re nailing it and I wouldn’t encourage anyone to parent any other way.

4. Allow your kids to fail sometimes, they can’t always be nailing it.

The “everyone is a winner” mentality just isn’t a realistic approach to raising kids, and I believe it sets them up for failure in the real world. One of the things I love most about my father is that he allowed me to try things as a kid, even if he knew I was going to fail at them. He’d give me as much wisdom as he could, and in the end use my failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. These are lessons that I’ve held dear to my heart for almost thirty years, and I don’t know where I’d be today without them.