Ever since the pandemic struck, parents and their children have been home together. Parenting in a pandemic can feel overwhelming. With all this together time, there has been very little opportunity for external distractions, or much needed time away from each other.
It’s not easy to be a great parent. It’s definitely not easy under a pandemic. Most of us didn’t have the best examples to follow, and it’s not a skill taught in school. You either have to educate yourself or learn on the job.
While there are many parenting styles, successful parents share attributes that give their children the best chance for success and happiness.
Most parents have a few of these attributes and the others can be developed. These are a reminder of the attributes that will make parenting in a pandemic easier:
- Patience. You knew this would be at the top of the list. Children are messy, noisy, don’t listen well, and they are exasperating. They can be pretty wonderful, too. But patience is essential. Learning to take a deep breath and relax can help more than just your parenting skills. A deep breath helps you create space between any frustration you might be feeling and reacting without thinking. In that space you will likely find a more compassionate response to the frustration you are feeling.
- Multi-tasking skills. Dealing with the house, work, and children requires a great deal of multitasking skill. Children constantly pull your attention away from whatever you’re doing. It’s not easy to regain your focus. There are plenty of strategies to help you get back on track: from lists, apps, and goal setting. The most important strategy however, is to be gentle with yourself and to create some flexibility in how your tasks are completed.
- Encouraging. Children quickly learn to doubt themselves and worry about the opinions of others. One of the best ways to combat this is to encourage your kids. Encourage their ideas and explore their curiosity with them. They will learn that their actions, thoughts and ideas are valuable and important.
- Supportive. Encouragement and support go hand-in-hand. Children with support grow up to be relaxed and comfortable. Without support, the world can be a scary place. Teach your child there’s little to fear when they have a supportive family around them.
- Problem-solving. Children provide a unique set of challenges that have to be solved. Sometimes, thinking outside of the box can help you navigate the minefield that parenting can entail. When you are struggling to get your children to brush their teeth, perhaps making it into a game, will get them to play along.
- Flexibility. Some of the best laid parenting plans will fall flat. Having a flexible mindset and multiple solutions up your sleeve, will be helpful. When one doesn’t work, you can always try something else. Plans are always changing, too. It helps if you can go with the flow.
- Good leadership skills. You might be able to boss your kids around, but they’ll resent it, and they never forget. It’s more effective to have good leadership skills and only throw your parental weight around when necessary.
- Dependability. Kids feel safe when they have reliable and dependable parents. They have to know that you’re there for them. How much can your kids trust your word? How reliable do your friends consider you to be?
- Compassion. Children need to develop and experience compassion. Kids need understanding and comforting.
- Sense of humor. Your children will give you plenty of opportunities to laugh. It would be a shame to allow those moments to go to waste. You’ll keep your sanity if you have a great sense of humor. Many stressful moments are eased by smiling or finding something funny in it.
- Self-awareness. Children aren’t sure how to act. It’s up to you to be a role model. You’ll find that kids react to situations in ways that mimic your reactions. They don’t know any other way. It’s important to be self-aware enough to know whether you’re being a good role model.
Parenting is one job that requires your utmost effort and attention, especially parenting in a pandemic! Great kids most often have great parents. Being a great parent isn’t easy, but it’s easier if you build these attributes.
If you need additional support in developing these attributes or problem solving challenges in your home, give us a call and get the support you need.
Be the best parent you can be and enjoy the process.
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