Parenting is not always about rules and setting limits. It’s more about loving your child and being loved in return without any extra baggage.
However, most parents get too much into the rules that they actually forget to enjoy this wonderful blessing. Once your child grows up, he may not be that dependent on you the way he used to be during his infancy, early childhood and even the teenage.
With passing time, he gets more involved in his life and it’s quite apparent. So whatever time you have in hand, you must utilize it wisely. And there is absolutely no harm in ditching some of the rules.
So, today we have got for you the list of rules which you can break without feeling guilty. Have a look:
Rule #1: No Messing Around
A little mess is okay. Just because you don’t want your house to look messed up, you can’t always restrict your kids from having a little fun around. After all, this is the age where they will enjoy freely without being shy or feeling inhibited. Let there be some fun inside the house and forget about the mess for some time. Just enjoy the moment with your child.
Rule #2: No late nights
It’s fine to ditch the sleep time. Once in a while, let your child ditch his sleep time and engage in some fun at night. You can play some fun games together or engage in some fun talks. Share stories; watch a fun movie together or simply party hard. There’s no fun greater than enjoying with your family. You can even sing out songs, but just be sure you don’t get too loud; think of your good neighbors.
Rule #3: No TV more than 30 minutes
For once, let the show go on. Watching too much TV doesn’t always make your child lazy or kill his learning skills. It all depends on what you encourage him to see. If you teach them to watch more of knowledgeable channels like Discovery, TV time will only enhance their knowledge and learning. Just see what they are watching but yeah, not at the cost of their studies.
Rule #4: No mistakes
Always aiming for perfection is unrealistic. Everybody makes mistakes, and you are no exception. Don’t run after perfection nor let your child do so. Failures are the biggest source of learning while perfection is simply a myth. Do you want your child to believe a myth?
Rule #5: No seconds or thirds, just FIRST
Success isn’t about numbers. If you insist your child to come first in whatever he does, you are killing his inner drive. Appreciate his efforts; don’t just focus on the end results. His genuine efforts are more important than the final outcome.
Rule #6: No junk
A little bit is not too bad. Agreed, junk is bad but not always. There is no harm in treating the taste buds to some fast foods once in a while. It can only be a welcoming change.
Rule #7: No absence from school
100% attendance isn’t a must. Studies are important and to keep pace with it, attending school is a must. But taking a day off and spending it leisurely isn’t a bad thought. It can help both you and your child to unwind.
Rule #8: No fun, only study
Fun & study make a good combination. Who says fun and study can’t be merged together? Don’t be too strict with study rules. Keep it a bit flexible and let kids have some fun while studying.
Rule #9: No trips
This is how exploration begins. A school picnic, small get together with friends will do no harm. Just check how safe your child is going to be and let him explore things around. If he is in higher class, small school trips should always be encouraged.
Rule #10: No arguments
Healthy discussion is a must. True, you shouldn’t allow your child to answer you back but you must always encourage him to speak up his mind rather than accepting your decisions with a heavy heart. Keep space for open discussion.
If you can break free of these rules, your parenting will become easier and smooth. It will even help you in nurturing your kids positively.