Lisa and her daughter Molly have been having trouble connecting lately. Molly just turned sixteen and has started to rebel. She refuses to clean her room, she talks back to her parents and she breaks curfew almost every weekend. None of the punishments that Lisa has given her daughter seem to be working. Lisa has tried to be engaged in her daughter’s life but it seems that Molly wants nothing to do with her.
Lisa was worn out and about to admit defeat until a friend mentioned Family & Children’s Services. She told Lisa about our life-changing parenting classes. Lisa didn’t need any convincing to call and learn more about these parenting classes. Lisa explained her situation to out FCS staff and we helped enroll her in our “Active Parenting of Teens” class. After six weeks of learning and obtaining new parenting skills, Lisa was ready to try again with her daughter, Molly.
When Lisa began implementing the exercises she learned in class, she started seeing a positive change in her daughter. Molly started trusting her mom and opening up about what was going on with her. Molly was rebelling because she was being bullied at school and didn’t know how to express her feelings. Lisa and Molly sat and talked for hours about how she was feeling and how they could approach the situation. Thanks to the support from Family & Children’s Services, Lisa and her daughter Molly are closer than ever.
We know that parenting can be stressful and exhausting. We grow up watching our parents be parents and we tend to repeat the pattern. However, there are different tools you may want to keep in your tool belt for when you get stuck and don’t know how to respond to a situation. We are here to help.
An important aspect of any parent/child relationship is love. Take time at the end of each day to connect with your family. Whether it’s a long hug, a conversation, a game, a song before bedtime, etc. Good family relationships and lots of positive attention are just what your child needs to learn and grow. Children need to know they are loved and cared for. Spending five minutes focused on your children will help them develop healthy relationships in the future.
We urge parents to take time to praise your children. Telling your child ‘you’re beautiful’, ‘you’re fantastic’, ‘You mean a lot to me’, ‘I love you’ can help remind them that they are cared for and supported. Praising your child is a vital part of fostering their confidence and self-esteem.
By being genuine and specific with your praise and encouragement, you can help build your child’s self-confidence. Try to eliminate constant negativity in your household and put the focus on all the wonderful, positive things your children are doing instead. Hug your child today and let them know they are loved and how important they are.
Parenting is part natural and part learned experiences. There are many resources available to help with situations you aren’t confident in. You can subscribe to parent magazines, online newsletters or websites that helps with child development. Parenting classes are also an extremely valuable asset to have. Family and Children’s Services is here to help with any roadblocks you might be experiencing as parents. We have an array of services to utilize and help sharpen your parenting skills.
Whether you are becoming a parent for the first time or you’ve been doing it for years, Family & Children’s Services has resources for all walks of life. Visit our website to learn more about the classes we offer. https://www.fcsok.org/classes/tulsa-parenting-help/
