I always liked being an only child.
I got 100% of my parents’ attention.
There was never any question in my mind whether my parents loved me.
And, I got all the toys. (woohoo)
But growing up as an only child wasn’t always fun fun fun. Like everything in life there were pros and cons.
One thing I noticed though, as I didn’t have siblings, is that adults often had trouble relating to children.
Some of my parents’ friends didn’t have any kids and when we were together, I felt like a third wheel.
It’s almost surprising for a child to learn one day that their parents were kids once. Many of them sure don’t act like it.
I guess it’s because as adults we just get so busy that we forget what it’s like to be a kid.
Responsibilities weigh heavily on any parent’s shoulders. People must become jack of all trades when they have children.
They must work to support their family, save for their future, educate their children, devote time to themselves, spend time with the family, cook, clean, vacuum and a whole host of other things that no one ever tells you about.
That’s why I decided to create another vlog to share with you my thoughts on what it takes to be a great parent.
One last piece of advice, for those people out there who want to be a better parent (myself included), if you’re wondering where to start then it’s easy. Start with education.
Knowledge is a parent’s best weapon.
The more we know, the more options we have, and the more comfortable we are in dealing with different situations.
So many parents today rely on schools to educate their children in the ways of the world and blame them when their kids aren’t learning fast enough.
But I’ve found that 70% of what kids learn comes from their own family, in particular the relationship between parent and child.
On top of that schools don’t teach things such as relationships, taxes, manners, posture, dress, and a whole host of important topics.
Each parent should strive to know as much as they can in order to be able to pass it on to their own children.
Usually the formula is simple – good parents, good kids. It’s not always the case…but there’s a reason why we have the expression “the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”
Kids end up reflecting who their parents are.
So if you want to have great kids, start with the person in the mirror.
Adrian Shepherd