How
Helps Parents Address The Biggest Parenting Challenge
BOUNDLESS
How
PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Helps Parents Address The Biggest Parenting Challenge
BY KRISTIN E . LINDEEN , MA , QBQ , INC ., QBQ . COM
IN THE Raising Accountable Kids Facebook group , we asked the question , “ What do you think the biggest challenge facing parents is today ?” Of course , one jokester chimed in with , “ CHILDREN !”
Doesn ’ t that sometimes feel like the truth , though ? Parenting would be easy , except for these children . The often-used quote “ I was a perfect parent . . . until I had children ” feels so true .
I ’ d like to submit an answer to the question myself and it ’ s this : One of the biggest challenges facing parents today is . . . ourselves .
Parenting is a learned skill . Agree ? Disagree ? When moms and dads just “ wing it ” and don ’ t seek any training to be the best parents they can be , the results they get may not be the results they hoped for when they chose the job . The truth is , we can all absorb new ideas , implement new practices , and form new habits — and when we do , both the parent and the child win .
Do these questions sound familiar ?
Why is he so emotional ? When will my daughter learn to keep her room clean ? Who taught my son to act like that ? Why does she have so many annoying behaviors ?
Questions like these are common , and they often indicate that we — albeit subconsciously — think our child is the problem , when in fact , I am accountable .
The right questions — we call them “ QBQs ” in Raising Accountable Kids — would be :
What can I do to better understand my child ? How can I model , teach , and coach good organization ? What can I do to respond consistently to unwanted behavior ? How can I evaluate my emotional needs so I can best parent my children ?
Questions like these not only represent accountable thinking but also lead to learning — and where there is learning , there is change . For many parents , one key change needed is the willingness to adopt this principle :
MY CHILD IS A PRODUCT OF MY PARENTING .
Some parents will debate this , pointing to other influences in a child ’ s life . It ’ s understandable . But we ’ ve found it ’ s easier to practice personal accountability in parenting by not fighting this principle and instead embracing it . With this premise in place , regardless of the age of the child , any parent can become the outstanding mom or dad they wish to be . And that is where raising accountable kids begins — with the parent .
Partially excerpted from Raising Accountable Kids
BOUNDLESS KIDS & TEENS
Boundless Kids and Teens is a unique program designed to help young people develop the skills and mind-set needed to succeed in all areas of life . Through a combination of coaching , mentorship , and hands-on learning experiences , participants in the Boundless Kids and Teens program will discover their own unique talents and strengths , develop a sense of purpose and direction , and learn how to set and achieve goals that will help them thrive both now and in the future . With a focus on growth , possibility , and resilience , Boundless Kids and Teens offers young people the tools they need to navigate the challenges of adolescence and build a foundation for a lifetime of success .
To learn more and register your child , visit boundless . me / boundless-kids /. Questions ? Email katherine @ boundless . me .
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