| The New Year is a time for people to take | | | | something with no strings attached? |
| stock and to make plans for the coming year. | | | | |
| People often set personal or business goals | | | | 5. Consider how you are supporting your |
| but how about considering what you would like | | | | child. Are you offering age-appropriate |
| your goal as a parent to be for 2008? What do | | | | support for their physical, emotional, |
| you want to achieve in your relationship with | | | | intellectual, financial and spiritual |
| your child this year? What would you like to | | | | development? |
| be doing more of with your child? What would | | | | |
| you like to be doing less? | | | | 6. What are your current ways of encouraging |
| | | | responsibility in your child? Are you |
| As our children grow and develop it is never | | | | increasing opportunities for them to do |
| too late to reassess our way of being with | | | | things on their own as they get older? Do you |
| them and to make changes towards having an | | | | encourage your child to try new things and |
| even more loving and fulfilling relationship, | | | | learn from their mistakes, putting more |
| while letting go of control and allowing them | | | | emphasis on their effort rather than success? |
| to develop responsibility and independence. | | | | |
| Here are seven ways to improve your | | | | 7. Reflect upon your child's independence. As |
| relationship with your child, be they a | | | | they develop how are you ensuring they gain |
| youngster or a teenager. Perhaps some of | | | | independence from you? Are you letting them |
| these may help you to set your own parenting | | | | go gradually as they get older? |
| goal for the coming year. | | | | |
| | | | Perhaps your goal as a parent for this year |
| 1. Think about respecting your child more. | | | | may be to keep on learning. This truly is one |
| What are their qualities that shine for you? | | | | of the greatest gifts we can give our |
| Tell them about them. | | | | children - to continually learn more about |
| | | | them as they grow and change as well as to |
| 2. Consider how well you listen to your | | | | learn to keep pace with our parenting role. |
| child. Do you stop what you are doing and | | | | Some suggestions to consider may be reading a |
| look at them when they are talking to you? Do | | | | parenting book or two this year, keeping up |
| you allow them to express their opinion | | | | to date about drugs if you have a teenager, |
| without interrupting or taking over from | | | | or attending a parent-coaching workshop - a |
| them? | | | | wonderful opportunity to learn and grow as |
| | | | well as be with other parents. |
| 3. Reflect on how well you understand and | | | | |
| know your child. Do you know what their | | | | Whatever you choose for your own parenting |
| favourite song or movie is, for example? Do | | | | goal for this year - one thing is certain - |
| you listen to them deeply and encourage them | | | | that because you care enough to think and |
| to share their feelings? | | | | plan your parenting, your child will |
| | | | definitely benefit. |
| 4. Think about how you show your child you | | | | |
| appreciate them. Do you tell them? Do you | | | | All the best for your parenting in 2008 - may |
| spend time with them or give them hugs? Do | | | | it be a year of loving and close connection |
| you very occasionally give them a little | | | | between you and your child. |