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When to be a Parent and When to be a Friend

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There’s always a fine line that stands between being a Parent to your child and being a Friend.

I personally feel there are no right or wrongs in the equation. As your child’s parent, you are blessed with a precious bond that nobody else has.

Only you know what excites your child, what sets him/her off, what gets him/her going.

You need to be the one to determine when it is you need to be the parent…

and when it is you need to be a friend.

When to be a Parent and When to be a Friend - MommySnippets.comWhen to be a Parent and When to be a Friend

There are a few universal, across the board areas where it generally is the same in most homes..

The Parent Hat comes on

– To correct my child when she is out of line in behavior or has done something that should not have been done . (I’d rather my children be taught what is accepted behavior and what is not, at home rather than by an outsider. )

– To listen when my child needs help. Sometimes our children just need an experienced ear to hear things out from his/her perspective and get Mom/Dad’s view on it all.

– To be a good example to follow in word, speech, conduct and faith. (I honestly believe our children shape and mold us to become better people!)

That being said, I also appreciate that the Friend Hat needs to be put on when

– She brings a favorite book home and wants to talk about the characters, story-line and/or just laugh at a crazy joke from the book.

– She just wants to talk her heart out about all the exciting things that happened at school, who said what to her or even what she ate. ( What may seem trivial to you, may be important to her. When she sees you value her conversation irrespective of the topic, she will want to come back and share more and more…and more.You will not regret this when she is a teen!)

– She just wants to play a game and you agree to it even if it’s something you’re not very excited about. Why? Because you know you get to spend that one-on-one time with her. (Every moment spent with your child is an investment in their lives…never a waste!)

Here’s something to think about…

and hide in your heart always.

 

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