Be a Model Father or Mother

If you were a father or mother but you don’t think everything you have to do as a father or mother, you would meet unexpected results.

I also found out that he is a mentors to men on being better fathers. I said "Hey I need a lot of work there, could you give me three pieces of advice on how I could be a better Father, a Better husband?" He did give me three pieces of advice, but to this day I don't remember the second and third piece of advice because I was so overwhelmed from the first one. He said "THEY WILL BECOME WHO YOU ARE" Rick Loy.

Do you worry about your kids' behavior? Do you like the way they behave or are treating other people? Do you get caught in an embarrassing situation because they are out of control or being reprimanded by his/her teacher? Do you ever ask yourself where did they learn that from or get those bad habits. They are certainly not my kids. Actually , Yes they are and probably more times than not. Maybe we need to take a hard look in the Mirror. When we do we will find out exactly where they learned it from .

Then you wonder where did I go wrong? How do I fix it.? You may ask yourself "Did I truly set a good example for my kids? Is it too late to make changes?

Parenting is probably the hardest thing we will ever do. There really isn't a manual for us to follow. I by no means am an expert or even good at it. However, I am certainly willing to work at it. I thought I would share some things with you that have been working for me and I have become aware of in my own Journey of being a better parent. They may or may not work for you but I always say we all can learn from each other so here they are.

We are the most influential people in our kids' personality.

Parents are the most influential on children when they are young. They spend most of their time in the company of their parents from the time they are born. They observe and learn everything about us. They watch our actions and listen to our voices. Parents are their role models and it is our obligation to set forth the best example we possibly can for them.

Children begin to pattern themselves after their parents and we always see that even in the games they play. When they play house, they always mimic us pretending to be mom or dad. They will act as they see mommy and daddy acting.

Parents should bear in mind the following things:

- Don't use abusive language in front of children - They mimic what they hear. If parents use profane language around their kids, then the children will eventually begin to repeat what they hear. It's natural to sometimes lose your temper, or say things you shouldn't, let out a few swear words, and so forth. But you need to draw a line at what you feel is acceptable.

- Never promise what you cannot do - As a role model, your integrity matters most to your kids. They will value promises and they will become a better person honoring their every word.

- Be firm and polite while talking - Shouting and reprimanding them all the time will not help. There is something to be said about getting down on their level and talking to them rather than at them, even when they do something out of control.

- Practice What You Preach - You can lecture your kids all day long, but what they really remember is your actions. You can't tell them that smoking is bad, yet they see you puffing away. Perhaps you demand respect and yet don't offer much back in return - you cannot insist them to respect you, respect is earned.

- Spend Time with Children - This part seems a little complicated especially when both parents are working. But having quality time doesn't mean to spend longer time with your children. You need both of course, but if spending longer time with your kids is not an option, make it a quality time with them.

- Being perfect is impossible - Trying to pretend you are perfect will just result in frustration, lies, and worst, a bad role model. It's okay if your kids see your weaknesses every once in a while, or even that you make mistakes. It teaches your kids to accept their faults and make appropriate changes.

It's never too late to set good example with your kids especially if they are still living at your home, and even if they are living independently, you can still set a good example. Remember, they will become who you are so you better make a good footprint for them to follow.