Emily Chan
All these phrases embody aggressive commands, threats, and blatant disrespect. They put labels on your child and make them feel stuck in a cycle of shame, leading them to continue acting up.
Next are some remarks that only serve to enable your child’s bad behavior. These phrases are passive excuses that do nothing to help your child in the long run.
-“Kids will be kids; what are you going to do?”
-“Okay, honey, whatever you want.”
-“Don’t say anything; we don’t want to make them mad.”
-“The kid just has ADHD. That’s the way it is.”
Parents’ words are powerful and are part of what builds their kids’ identities. Therefore, as a parent, your words matter, and you must be careful about what you say because you can actually speak things into existence.
If you tell your kid they’re disrespectful and selfish, then they will act disrespectful and selfish since that is what they believe about themselves.
So instead of stooping to their level, Sean is offering some tools you can utilize to replace those less effective strategies.
Sit down and have a heart-to-heart with your child. Acknowledge and validate your child’s feelings while also calmly expressing your feelings. It’s important to be vulnerable and share what’s on your mind.
Once your child realizes you’re a human being too, and not just an unmovable authority figure, you might find it easier to communicate with them.
