|
A Kiss on the Head
Building better relationships with your kids
The other day I saw a grandmother caring for her squirmy preschool-aged grandson. They were in a quiet setting. She was talking to him gently trying to get him to settle down.
When she was done talking, she smiled and kissed him on the top of the head. You could easily imagine that, when it came to time to settle down for a nap, he would readily and lovingly nestle into the softness of her arm.
How had their sweet relationship developed?
We have all heard that the love of grandparents is different than that of parents. Why is it hard for some parents to love their children in this same grandparent-like way?
There are probably a lot of reasons. Grandparents are
likely to:
- Cherish their limited time with grandchildren.
- Have expectations based on life experience that children are not mini-adults.
Parents, on the other hand, may feel pressured and stressed. They oftentimes have high expectations for themselves and place those same expectations on their children. Many parents feel that their intense parenting days are long and only realize upon reflection on high school graduation day that the years are short.
So what can parents do to build up their relationship with their children now?
- Be around other supportive parents.
- Learn about child development.
- Reduce family stress and pressure.
- Use positive parenting techniques.
When possible, treasure the gift of young life. It will be worth it!
| 
