Respect -- Most parents would agree that they want and expect their children/teens to treat adults with respect. They probably even spend a lot of time demanding and teaching their children/teens to be respectful. But they may be missing an essential element. You can never really teach a child/teen to be respectful until you first show the child/teen respect!
Respect begins the first day that baby enters the world and comes pretty natural for most parents. When the baby cries, you answer.
Other ways we show respect to our children:
*Truly determing the reason for our babies' cries and meeting that need
*Respecting their schedule. Sure there are times when they will nap on the run, but balancing that with good naps in their crib and working within their time schedule
*Avoiding the temptation to overschedule children
*Telling children good-bye and when you will be back. (Avoiding the temptation to sneak out the door because your child is happily playing.)
*Honoring their privacy unless you have a valid reason not to.
And the list could go on. I'm sure you can think of your own ways of showing respect to your childrent and teenagers.
One parent admitted that she didn't fully understand the benefits of telling her children good-bye and when she would be back until her children began to drive. She did it because she had been told to and didn't see any harm in it. Although, she was quite certain that it meant nothing to her small children when she first began. But everytime she left, she said good-bye and told even her babies that mommy would be home at whatever time -- not that they could tell time!
She continued this practice and would even call home to let them know that her plans had changed. Instead of coming home after the Mall run, she was going to swing by the grocery store or whatever!
Many years later the payoff came. Her oldest reached driving age. Guess what! She never had to teach her daughter to always let her know where she was going, who she would be with and when she would be home. Nor did she have to tell her to call home when plans changed. This is just what they did in their house. Mom and dad did it. It made sense that she would show them the same respect they had always shown her.
Live, breathe and be RESPECT. It will come naturally to your children!
