Some thoughts on Parenting.....

7 Habits of Highly Effective Parents

A quick caveat: no parenting strategy is a guarantee of success nor will it yield immediate results. The key is to build habits – habits in the way we interact and communicate with our children, habits in the way we think about our role as parents, habits in the ways we solve problems, etc. These habits are what ultimately makes the parent-child dynamic a constructive and effective one. 
1. Understand your Goals and Priorities
Be clear on your goals and priorities and then choose your battles. Be prepared to give in, to make compromises or changes when the issue at hand is more important for your child than it is for you. This need not undermine your authority as long as those compromises don’t impact your goals and priorities.
2. Set up House Rules
Take the time to set up House Rules and explain them to your children. Give everyone a chance to collaborate on this process (including opportunities for disagreements) and to contribute to the rules that will govern everyone under the roof.
3. Practice Effective Negotiation Techniques
Teach your child how to be an effective negotiator. It sounds counterproductive but it isn’t. By teaching your child how to negotiate, you’re actually empowering her to make better decisions, be less argumentative, and to participate in productive problem-solving – all of which will make your job as a parent much easier in the long-run.
4. Practice Listening and Talking
When your child talks, listen. When she asks questions, listen. When she has concerns, listen. When she expresses emotions, listen.
Children rarely have the words they need to actually convey what they need to say. That means that those important nuggets of information are often buried in babble and queries and worries and tears. Listen so that you can help them identify what really matters… then talk to them.
Talk when there is a conflict, talk when there isn’t. Talk when there is a concern (yours or theirs). Talk them through a problem or something they don’t understand, talk them through your own problem-solving process.
Be open and honest and forthright with information and your children will respond in kind.
5. Think about the Cause and Effect of your Actions
So often, we are simply reacting to the unpredictability and unexpected nature of the things that come our way as parents. However, it is important to keep in mind that our actions will impact our children and, to the extent that we can, we should do our best to limit the unintended effects of our actions.
That requires that we practice taking a moment to think about the reasons behind the things we do or say and how they may be received by our children.
6. Think Win/Win
You may be the parent but your child is nevertheless an independent entity that is trying to find the best way to live her life. Design strategies that aren’t just in your favor but actually create an optimal situation for your child as well.
7. Customize your Parenting
Read up on different parenting techniques, talk to your friends and family, experiment with different strategies… and then do what you think is best. There are many different ways of handling this complicated task of being parents. However, each situation is unique and not all strategies, tips and advice will work for you. Become informed and then customize your parenting.