Your most successful parenting tip?

[Paid in full]

Stay at least two or three moves ahead of them, especially if you have a large family, or they'll eat you alive

LOL! too true!!!

 

[delvaughn]

When you're at your wits end, pray.

When you're NOT at your wits end, pray.

If you're a single parent, try to maintain at least the appearance of respect for the other parent. I'm fortunate that my girls' father and I are good friends even though we are no longer together, and although there is the occasional disagreement, we're usually able to do the big things together. We also keep each other informed about what's going on and try to encourage each other in areas that don't involve our children. I know that not all parents have this type of relationship with their ex's, but I think it helps enormously if you can at least strive for it.

Also....do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it, even if it's just having someone come over and watch the kids long enough to take a walk around the block.

 

[Torah]

If you notice they got quite, go check on them most likely they’re doing something they should not be doing.

My kids got wise to me. One day they broke a lamp. And as two of them worked on gluing the lamp back together the other three were making noise as if they were playing.

 

[Paid in full]

If you notice they got quite, go check on them most likely they’re doing something they should not be doing.

My kids got wise to me. One day they broke a lamp. And as two of them worked on gluing the lamp back together the other three were making noise as if they were playing.

Thats so funny Roflol!

 

[Diane_Windsor]

say what you mean, mean what you say

Ditto.

Also, do what you say you are going to do. If you tell little Johnny to stop fighting with his sister or else he gets fill-in-the-blank punishment and little Johnny keeps on antaganoizing little Jane then follow through on your punishment and punich Johnny. I'll give a RL example:

Has anyone heard about the man who put his childrens' Christmas presents up on Ebay? He told them to stop fighting or else he would put the Gameboys, etc. up on Ebay. The children continued fighting, and so he called a family conference informing them that he put the presents on Ebay. It broke the parents' hearts to do this, but they followed through on the punishment, and their children will learn to obey Mom and Dad. They set a great example to follow, and I respect them for that.

Here is a link to the story. Skimming through the article it seems that these parents were not good on follow-through. They'd ground the kids for a week, but they'd be ungrounded three days later, etc., etc. See what happens when you don't follow through-things just get worse.

Teach your children manners please. If you're children are fighting, running, causing a racous, etc. in a store or restuarant please leave, take them outside, etc. so that you do not disturb those around you. It is greatly appreciated by me and others, and it is great opportunity to teach manners to your children

DW

 

[MichaelFJF]

My #1 tip: Negotiate backwards.

 

[retooferab]

1. Pray.

2. Learn your child's love language and speak it! The Five Love Languages of Children, by Chapman and Campbell

 

[Kebisoni]

How funny I was going to say exactly the same thing as the above post!

I'll add - happy parents make happy children, so in our rush to give everything and do everything for our kids - don't forget that you and your spouse have needs and need time too...its OK for you focus on you sometimes too!