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I had a book signing on Saturday, February 11, 2017 and as I was listening to everyone's story on how the book Caleb’s Special Friend has blessed them and their children. I begin to think about some of the content that I had written. I thumbed through the end of the book to the part where it explained what a Shadow Friend was and that your parents and different people can be your friend. I began to think about parents being friends with their children.
Have you ever heard the statement? "Parents should not be their children's friend" In My opinion, You should be their first friend. I am not talking about you as a parent hang out with your children when their younger friends come over to play or when your teenagers go out you want to hang out with them and go to their parties.
What I am saying to you is, you the parent will be the first interaction and social contact your child will have when they are young, so therefore you are the first role model and influencer in their life. So, if they do not learn about what true friendship is from you then they will learn it from someone else.
There are so many young people in this world today would rather go to their friends first to discuss problems that they are having or to get information. As a parent, you should want to be that first friend that your child discusses problems with.
Establish a strong bond between you and your child. Teach your children that you are the parent and their friend. Raise them up respecting you as a parent, but trusting you as a friend that they can come to for anything. If you start building this bond with your child when they are young, the child will not be so easy influence by their peers as they get older.
Tips that can help you:
- Communication
- Listening
- Pick your battles
- Have fun
- Be honest
- Try to answer the child’s questions. If you don’t know the answer let them know that and tell them you will help them find the answer to the question.
- Praise and encouragement
- Teach that true friends will always be there for you and will be honest with you about everything whether you like what they say or not.
In the book “Caleb’s Special Friend” the author uses Caleb’s shadow to demonstrate having a friend that is always with you. You can read the book and see where the parents taught him about not giving up and to trust in himself. Having that bond with your children are very important.
I am really interested in hearing your take on this subject.
Callena can be reached at:
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www.cftrainingservices.com
twitter: Callena Fitzpatrick@cftraining65
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