Parenthood is a journey, one without a map. You are forging your own unique path, filled with joys, challenges, victories, and stumbling blocks. When you are in the thick of things, parenting a child, it’s easy to forget that you are a good parent. So, how can you know you’re doing a good job?
Truth be told, there is no specific checklist for excellent parents, as every family is different. But there are certainly some guidelines, qualities, and moments that can help you keep track of where you are as a parent. The most notable things that make a great parent are the small things.
It’s not about being supermom or superdad; it’s about having a guiding sense that you are doing things right in your little family. You’re offering love and support to the best of your ability, and you’re present for your little ones.
These nine signs that you are a great parent may surprise you, as they are small things and may be the very things that you take for granted or assume your children are completely aware of.
9 Signs You Are A Great Parent
1. You Put Their Emotional Well-Being First
Have you ever noticed that children often make their parents worry about them academically, athletically, and socially, all at the expense of how they are doing emotionally?
A truly great parent will put their child’s emotional well-being first. Sure, they may want their children to be well-rounded and involved in all kinds of activities, but not at the expense of their child’s feelings.
If your child is being bullied or is not having fun, you are willing to make changes so that your child is happier. A great parent will show their children that emotions are okay to feel, and will teach them how to deal with their emotions in a positive and healthy way.
Related: 5 Non-Obvious Signs That Your Child May Be Ahead in terms of Development
2. You Are A Role Model For Them
Words are great, but action speaks louder. If you spend your days telling your children all of the ways that they should behave but never actually show them how to do those things, then it is very difficult for your children to understand how to really be the person that you want them to be.
Instead, a great parent models the behavior that they hope their children will adopt. These are the people who will demonstrate how to be kind, how to have patience, and how to love others. Children take note of this, and in doing so, they are more likely to act in kind themselves.
3. You Encourage Independence
If your child is not treated as their own independent being, if their every move is mapped out or they are told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, then they are never allowed the space to grow. It is possible to protect them while still encouraging their independence.
Great parents realize that by encouraging their children to make decisions and experience the world for themselves, they are allowing them to grow into their own individual selves and learn to manage all aspects of their own lives.
Related: How to Make Your Kids Mentally Strong
4. You Make Time for Them
Life can be hectic—a job, a home to clean and maintain, bills to pay, and your children. One of the most difficult aspects of modern life is finding time for each part of it. But when it comes to your kids, time is essential. They don’t need expensive trips or gifts, but they do need your time.
A great parent is the one that their children always know they can turn to, just to chat or spend time together. Children understand, when they are young at least, that life gets busy and that we all only have so much time, but they also know when you are making time for them and when you are not. Making time for your children is the best way to spend your time.
5. You Are Patient and Understanding
Children can be difficult; they can also be fussy, get frustrated, and want to be heard. But if they are met with patience and understanding, it can make all the difference in the relationship between parent and child.
Children will test their parents, as they are supposed to, as they learn to be young and navigate the world. But parents who are patient and understanding set their children up for a very bright future in terms of the relationship they share.
Related: How to Make Your Kids Feel Special Every Day
6. You Show Unconditional Love
Showing your children that you love them unconditionally is paramount to creating an environment where they feel safe and know that they are loved and accepted no matter what. No one is perfect, and a great parent will show their children unconditional love through thick and thin.
If their children are good or not, if they succeed or fail, if they are in a good mood or not, a great parent’s love will not waver, and they will show their child that love.
7. You Listen and Communicate Openly
Communication is key in all aspects of life, and this is no different between parent and child. A great parent will listen to their child and will give them the space and support to communicate openly with them.
This could be anything from actively listening when your child tells you about their day to giving them space and asking how they are when they are upset or angry. Listening and communicating openly and honestly can create a bright future for a child and their parent.
Related: 5 Ways to Be an Organized Mom
8. You Provide Structure and Boundaries
Parents have a unique and necessary role in providing their children with the structure they need to understand the world around them. Children are very different from adults, and this is particularly true in terms of their sense of right and wrong.
They need to have clear rules to follow and be given the necessary boundaries to ensure that they are safe, secure, and learning the vital rules of society in terms of right and wrong. Good parents will provide these rules and boundaries to ensure their children know what to expect from them, as well as from society.
Related: How To Create a Bedtime Routine for Your Toddler
9. You Take Care of Yourself
Self-care is vitally important to everyone, including children. As much as we love them, children are taxing to look after, and parents need to take care of themselves as well as their kids. A great parent knows this and understands that they cannot pour from an empty cup.
Children will watch their parents closely and will learn very early how to take care of themselves from how their parents act toward themselves. A parent who is tired, angry, and defeated will teach their child the same, so it is important to make time to recharge.
Conclusion
There is no one single way to be a great parent, as everyone is different, and so are their children. Parenting is hard, and that is okay. If you make it through the day and did the best you could, you are doing amazing. These nine signs that you are a great parent are small things that you do in your day-to-day life.
They can help you understand that you are a great parent, and that if your children are doing well and are healthy and happy, then chances are you are doing a great job of parenting them.
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