How To Be Your Child’s Best Friend Part 2

This is a continuation of the article on How to Be Your Child's Best Friend Part 1.

To recap in case you missed the article; the four key points included:

• Learn to Separate your job title from your parental title
• Understand they are growing up
• Let them learn from their mistakes at times
• Let them know they can trust you with their secrets

Today we pick up from where we left in an attempt to bring you closer to your children.

1.    Get involved in their dreams and aspirations 

Children grow up having dreams and aspirations. Many times, they may not resonate with what their parents dream for them. This however, is no reason for you to impose a dream on them.

Just as a best friend supports the other, for one to be your child’s best friend you should learn to support their passion.  Support may be financial or through word of advice.

Just let them know that their dreams are as important to you as they are to them.

2.    Keep checking on them no matter how far they may be

This is a problem mostly to the boy child. There is this norm especially in the African setup that, when a boy  reaches a certain age, especially after initiation they are taken to be men and parental concern is minimised.

Yes they need the space but lack of concern actually builds a rift between the parent and the child.

This is why I keep saying that, your child will always be your child no matter their age. You cannot be a best friend to someone whom you never take time to know how they are doing.

3.    Love with more than basic needs

I hear many children claiming that their parents are not really concerned about them. This is interesting because, the child may have all they need, from clothes, food, shelter, to a good education.

The thing is, some parents really shy away from telling their children how much they love them. They will claim they provide everything, but that is just not it.

Children need to hear you say that you love them. You may call it westernisation but it will bring you closer to your child.

4. Forgive and forget

Many times parents say they have forgiven their children but once they make another mistake, all other mistakes are resurrected from their graves.

Beware that, this only scares a child away from a parent since they will serve as a reminder of their incompleteness.

If one can try forget, then a child will find grace to grow in peace knowing they can live past their shortcomings and they can run to your arms when things are not right. 

It is not easy to be at the same level with your kids but children do not ask for much. They need a friend who gets them and comes to their level and this what you need to do as a parent.

You have the tips and insight from a young girl who is yet to be a parent. To me, this is just a sneak peek into the thoughts of most children and the key to better child-parent relationships.

Here are Related Articles:

1. Mothers and Daughters

2. How To Be Your Child's Best Friend Part 1