Are You Talking to Me?

By Janet Strassman Perlmutter


 


As a parent, how do you know whether you’re being too indulgent, too demanding or simply too involved in your kids’ lives?


 


William Doherty, Ph.D., a University of Minnesota sociologist and the author of Take Back Your Kids: Confident Parenting in Turbulent Times, says parents should watch for the following red flags:


="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> 


="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">• Does the idea of family mealtime seem like a relic from a bygone era? This is one sign of an overscheduled child or family. Sit-down family meals are as important as ever.


 


• Do you allow your child to yell at you regularly? If so, you’re probably not showing appropriate parental leadership. A child’s anger is permitted, Doherty says, but rudeness is not.


 


="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">• Do you cook different meals for each child because one really wants hamburgers and another has her heart set on grilled cheese? Doherty says you may be “wimping out as a parent” in the name of fostering your kids’ individuality. It’s just as important to foster compromise and flexibility in kids, he says.


 


Articles Tools

Top