The journey of parenting can be challenging. Knowing the right parenting style for your family can be difficult. You must balance work and family life, navigate parenting struggles like school pressure, manage your child’s behaviour, handle stress and care for yourself. As a result, you may worry that you will miss out on the special moments of your children’s lives. You may fear being judged or criticized by other parents if you don’t get parenting right. You may even doubt that you are a good enough parent. You may be concerned that your children may grow distant from you if you are too strict with them. How you parent will impact your children’s future, so it is vital to understand the different parenting styles to decide on the best parenting style for your family.
Understanding Different Parenting Styles
There are four parenting styles. An authoritarian style seeks to create structure and discipline through firm boundaries. A permissive parenting style embraces freedom and leniency. An authoritative parenting style blends warmth and understanding with reasonable rules. Parents may be unintentionally distant and less engaged in uninvolved parenting.
Determining Which Parenting Style Is For You
Reflecting on your own upbringing can provide insight into how your experience has shaped your parenting instinct. You may have had an authoritarian parent and a permissive parent. Due to the extremes, you may prefer to create a balance in your parenting style. Consider societal and cultural influences. They may have impacted who you are today. Envision the kind of relationship you would like to have with your children.
Tailoring your parenting style to suit your child’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses is crucial. As your child grows, their personality changes and the parenting style which may have worked for them when they were younger may no longer be effective. Awareness and flexibility are skill sets to embody with your parenting style.
It is essential to have a thoughtful approach to your parenting style. Being thoughtful nurtures your child’s emotional intelligence. They understand, manage and become more adept at communicating their feelings. Being thoughtful also promotes independence and healthy self-esteem.
As you navigate your parenting journey, you will make mistakes. The key is to learn from them and apply what you know. Be flexible in your parenting journey. Be aware that no one has all the answers, and you may need to seek support from family members or professionals. Professionals guide you as you maneuver your parenting duty and help you understand your child’s behaviour. Parenting support provides a safe, non-judgmental space to discuss your concerns, learn new strategies, and gain insights into your child’s behaviour and emotions. It’s a partnership that fosters your growth as a parent, empowering you to handle various situations confidently and gracefully.
Parenting Support in Edmonton
Parenting can be a roller-coaster ride with ups, downs, and unexpected twists. It’s a journey full of joy but can also leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or confused.
At J. Gordon Psychology Group, we believe therapy is part of living a healthy life; you don’t have to be in crisis or facing an emergency to seek support. Our practice is built on long-term connections, and we walk with you as you navigate your life’s different phases and challenges.
We support you as you navigate challenging behaviours, school difficulties, emotional struggles, appropriate limit setting and boundaries, day-to-day trouble spots with your child and parenting stress.
We provide strengths-based, compassionate, collaborative, evidence-based, and relationship-focused therapy.
Healing is possible, and we’re here to help navigate the path to recovery.
Get the guidance you need to understand your child’s behaviour with confidence and compassion.
