The challenges of parenting

Parenting goes down to helping to develop the intellectual ability of the children, watching the behaviour they model, occupational choices they make, the material resources they are left with when they are alone, the attitudes they hold regarding other children and most importantly, the moral and religious attitude the children exhibit.

As we get more civilised, unity within the family becomes an all time crisis. In the modern world, the parents are being forced to the pressures of raising children in an extremely complex society.

The principles of love, honour and integrity are vital ingredients in any successful relationship. But with future generations growing up with little or no parental care as a result of broken homes which often lead to psychological trauma and environmental hazards in some cases, most parents are having difficulties giving their children the ideal family structure necessary to lay a secure foundation for later life.

Most people as a father, mother, husband or wife experience dilemmas and joys of parenthood. Being a parent is one of the most character-building tasks any person can have. It could be frightening to know that you are responsible for your children’s upbringing especially when you think about the complex nature of the modern society which tends to dictate more the kind of life they might grow up to lead.

Below are some important tips on how to thrive on some parenting challenges:

 Check out the examples of parents who have successfully mastered the task of parenting and emulate accordingly as experiences vary enormously with person to person, and are shaped by so many variables.

 Make time for your family.

 Make it an issue to set priorities.

 Review all your priorities on regular basis.

 Take time to listen to your children, no matter how stupid they sound. It gives them a sense of belonging.

 Make your orders ever-potent by not always scolding on irrelevant issues; this makes the children not to only respect your presence but also your absence.

 You can not compare your childhood experiences with the children’s; be reasonable when handling them.

 Point out to them, whatever they do wrong and teach them to say “I’m sorry”.

 Watch the kind of company they keep and advised them against the advantages or disadvantages of keeping such friends.

 Maintain a cordial relationship with their teachers.

 How your children treat others is an indication of how you treat them at home; teach them to relate respectfully with people they meet outside.

 Avoid telling your children negative words like olodo; it makes them lose their sense of personal pride.

 Encourage them whenever they do something right, but not letting it get into their heads.

 Teach them how to promote love and understanding among other children by showing love to those with challenges. Explain to them why they should not victimise or despise them.

    Children with special needs should be given special attention and should also be allowed to relate in the same way that others relate.

The children, to a great extent are determiners of the future of every society. They deserve the time and attention so as to make them better people.

Zainab Temitope Abdulazeez is a Mass Communication Department (400 Level), Bayero University, Kano.