Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books

  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • My CV
    • Tools
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
You are here: Home / Potpourri / Dependent On Us Is Not The Parenting Goal

Dependent On Us Is Not The Parenting Goal

Dependent On Us Is Not The Parenting Goal

There’s a certain parental comfort we take in our kids being dependent on us, isn’t there?

I am talking here about some of the small joys of being a parent.

Changing a diaper. Helping them get dressed. Driving them to school. Etc.

As they get older you might teach them about balancing a checkbook, driving with care, and having healthy relationships.

But it strikes me occasionally that one of the main goals of successful parenting is to eliminate all of this – or at least eliminate our parts in it.

We want our kids to be able to do all these things when we are not standing over their shoulders.

We nurture our uncivilized children into independent and functioning adults.

I, for one, hope my kids still want to be friends (and live nearby) after everything is said and done.

Heaven help me if I shepherd them up and they just leave!

We want our children to know that they’re not completely dependent on us. The world outside the home—the pet shop, the dentist, the school, an older child—can all be called upon to help them with their problems.

-Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Amazon)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Independence, #Parenting

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Free Weekly Newsletter:

Search

Recent Posts

  • Denying Your Children Important Experiences (Stop!)
  • The Case For Less Praise
  • Create This Controversy
  • When A Child Asks A Question (Do This)
  • Hypomone – In All Things
  • With No Care Of The Nations
  • Instabooks 344
  • The Week In Review – 249
  • Maybe Stop Asking Your Kids “Did You Have Fun Today?”
  • Random Thoughts – 273
  • The Bittersweet Road Of Parenting
  • Instabooks 343
  • Waiting For That Long Black Train
  • Parenting Disposition: Improved
  • If You Want To Be A Writer Then…
  • Goes On In It’s Frozen Way
  • Protect Children From Disappointment?
  • Because You Did The Work
  • Fluffed Up Over Your Ears And
  • Dependent On Us Is Not The Parenting Goal
  • Snow Day 2021
  • They Force You To Be Precise
  • The Week In Review – 248
  • Explore The Answer For Themselves
  • Random Thoughts – 272

Copyright © 2021 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in