Parenthood easier when we lighten up

Being a parent isn't always fun. When you're raising your children there will be times when you will feel discouraged, misunderstood and unappreciated.

Learning how to go with the flow and make the most out of every situation is the only way to survive those stressful years.

Parents need to learn how to be flexible and to let go of the things that are not important. There will be good and bad days. It's important to remember that children develop skills and learn about life by experimenting and messing up.

Our job as parents is to set rules and guide them along the way and help them learn right from wrong. We have to always be ready to enjoy the good days and not hold the bad days against them.

Believe in your children and trust that they will turn out all right. But be diligent. Be clear about what works for your family and don't let outside influences change that vision.

Don't let what other parents allow their children to do pressure you into allowing your children to do things you don't feel comfortable with.

No one likes to be the parent that isn't cool, but our children have enough friends. What they need is an adult that will look out for them.

Sometimes parents forget to be the adult in the relationship. It's all right for you to be close to your children, but you are not their contemporary.

There will be days when your child accuses you of being too strict, hateful and annoying. Whenever this happens know that you are doing your job.

There will be days when you feel that all you do is argue with your children. It is during these difficult times that you must let them know how much you care for them.

Someday when your children are older they will remember that no matter what they said or did, their mom and dad never stopped loving them.

In order to survive parenthood we have to learn how to laugh more, and not take things to seriously.

Children will cry one minute and be happily playing with their toys five minutes later. Teens emotions also go up and down on a regular basis. If parents don't know how to lighten up, they will spend a lot of time being upset about things their children forgot they said or did five minutes after it happened.

Make time for yourself. The most difficult part of parenthood is that it is an all consuming 24-hour job. It is very important that you give yourself time to refuel.

Don't feel guilty about needing time away from your children. A rested parent is a much more patient and loving one.  

Maria Luisa Salcines is a freelance writer, certified parent educator and corporate empowerment consultant with The International Network for Children and Families in Redirecting Children's Behavior, Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom, and Redirecting Corporate America. Contact her at her Web site at www.redirectingchildrenrgv.org.