Active Parenting

Hey all, this week we talked about parenting and the best ways to become an active parent. First of all, some of you may wonder what an active parent is. Well, let me explain. You see an active parent is someone who is involved in parenting and knows how to take correct steps to punishment. We talked a lot about the best way to punish. Some think punishment is grounding from something, or spanking, or taking something away. But, there is more to punishment then that. My teacher explained a story from his youth that showed how good active parents should punish. His story starts when he was a youth and he went out and drove his friend and his friends girlfriend. Well his parents set a curfew for midnight. While out with his friends they went off and it was getting close to that curfew time. He couldn’t find his friends until they came back nearly to midnight. He drove them home and hurried back to his house. They had a rule in his hose that as soon as you got home at night to wake up the parents and talk to them so they know exactly what time you came home. So, he hurried to their room to talk to them and got there by 12:20am. He talked to them and explained how his friends were out and they asked if he sped and he said no. Then he went to bed. The next day he was getting ready for a date when his father passed by and said where are you going? And he explained he was going on a date. Well his father said. I am sorry but you were home late last night past curfew you can’t go tonight. He was mad at friend for causing him to be late but also mad at himself for breaking that rule, since he knew that rule was in place.

Now you see in this example there are two great examples of active parentings. One was sticking with the punishment and making sure it was carried out. Two for having the children come into their room and talk to them when they get home. Many times, children get home and send a text or sometimes not even check in with their family so, parents may not know when they do get home. I really like this example of active parenting.

Another topic we covered was the role of consequences. Many times, as parents they think they need to save their children from the natural consequences or parenting their way and not following through. By doing this, children don’t learn anything. They believe they can get away with anything. When children get in trouble at school and have detention, let them. If they hit someone with their car, have them pay for the damages. I know for me when my parents would buy me things I wouldn’t take care of them as I would if I bought them. For example, my parents bought me my first car and I got in a small fender bender, well my dad ended up replacing a part and buying it and fixing it. It didn’t mean anything to me. But just recently my fiancée and I bought a car together and let me tell ya I double or triple check both ways when I am going anywhere because it is ours and our responsibility. I feel children now days don’t get those kind of learning lessons to take care or buy what they want to have that responsibility. I think it is so important to have that responsibly of buying something and having full ownership of it. Just a few of my thoughts.