You are the Parent
By Dr. L. Pettis-Patton

Assuming Your Role of Guidance and Leadership

Let this be a friendly reminder, you are the parent and in your role of parenting you must provide guidance and assume the role of leadership, which your child needs in order to be successful. 

The role of a parent is not an easy one, and there are challenges you will face and expectation of how you handle and resolve them. That is why “Parenting for Success” will continue to remind you of how important you are in the life of your child.  Parenting is not something you can turn on and off. From the moment you become a parent your responsibilities to your child begin, and although they will change through the years as your child becomes older, parenting is a lifetime commitment.

Enjoy this very special gift of purpose that you have been granted to mold, shape and guide your child to his or her rightful destiny. All children are blessed with talents and abilities. As the parent you are your child’s first observer that should identify interest, strengths and even weaknesses. Where you identify an interest of your child provide opportunities for your child to explore through activities to see if the interest broadens. Where you identify strengths, keep your child involved so the talent will continue to be strengthened. Where there are weaknesses, find ways to provide activities to improve upon the weakness.

The guidance and leadership from you the parent, is so very important in the life of your child.  When you know your child needs to be corrected it is important for you to address the issue immediately, through a brief conversation with explanation. Your child will understand and adhere to your guidance. Often times children know when what they are doing is not acceptable but they will test you the parent to see whether or not they can get away with the behavior. Parents stay alert and observant of your child.