Being a parent is a difficult and demanding job that begins long before your child is born and really never ends, and while it is rewarding and wonderful, it can also be exhausting and frustrating, too. As a parent, it is easy to lose sight of who you are as an individual and many times, parents are forced to put aside their own hopes and dreams in an effort to be supportive of their kids.

In order to be a good parent, though, you do have to take time for yourself. You need to refuel yourself and replenish your good will in order to be a good parent. This means saying no to your kids sometimes, and it means putting yourself first. When you don’t do that, you will find yourself having a shorter fuse, snapping at your kids more often, and having less to give your kids when they need you.

To be a good parent, you have to first be good to yourself. It’s just like when you are on an airplane and the airline representative encourages you to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping anyone else. If you haven’t ensured your own well being, there is no way you will be able to ensure anyone else’s. While this is true in terms of airline emergencies, it’s also true in terms of being a good parent.

Being a good parent doesn’t mean giving in to your child’s every demand or buying him or her the most expensive toys and gadgets. Being a good parent means providing a home filled with love and encouragement. Spending time with your kids is much more important than spending money on them. Being a good parent also means knowing when to say no – whether you’re saying no because you need to say yes to you or you’re saying no because you’re trying to help your child understand the need to have balance.

Good parenting skills do not develop overnight. In fact, out of all the jobs you’ll ever have, parenting is the one that comes with the least amount of instruction. You’re going to make mistakes; you’re going to lose your temper; you’re going to say no when you should have said yes and vice versa. But being a good parent means you keep trying, even when you feel lost, frustrated, or ready to give up.

As your kids grow into teens, being a good parent becomes even more difficult. It’s easier to second guess your decisions and harder to know how to guide your teen while still fostering his or her independence. It’s also one of the most important times for you to set an example of prioritizing your own needs so that your teens can learn how to become healthy adults. When your teen sees you choosing to take care of yourself by doing the things you love, by exercising and eating right, by living a life that makes you happy, you will send a powerful message about how to live.

Author Bio: For more valuable information by parenting expert, Norbert Georget, go to PARENTING TEENAGERS TODAY. You will find all the answers you’ll need to Parenting A Teenager.

Category: Parenting
Keywords: good parent,parenting,teenagers,good parenting,parenting teenagers