Most parents want to be their best for their children and give them the best because they love their kids. And unless another caregiver raises the child, parents are the most significant influence in the lives of the children. And if you are a parent, chances are you want to ensure that you are giving the very best for your kids. The habits and rituals that you develop at home will have a significant impact on your kids.
You Love Your Kids, But Life Can Distract You From Them
However, at the same time, you also know that you have to provide the best to your work, give your best to your other responsibilities, and perhaps other family members need your attention. Therefore, due to feeling that you are spread thin, you may sometimes be distant from your kids if you are dealing with a lot of stress. The last thing you will ever want to happen is that your kids do not feel loved by you because of how you live such a busy lifestyle.
Before you beat yourself up, remember that you are human and a good parent, which is why you want to look into methods to make your kids feel loved regardless of what is happening in your life.
Always Be Attentive To Your Kids
Yes, you may have a lot of work, and you may have a sick parent in addition to that, which is stressing you. However, your kids need you no matter what. So even if you are tired, listen to your kids. If they want to tell you about an exciting show or movie they watched, even though it may be the last thing you want to hear about, listen to them and show enthusiasm about it too. Kids will remember that when they grow up.
However, at the same time, if your kids are old enough or cognitively able to understand that you are stressed, you can talk to them and explain why you are tired, especially if they ask you why you want to sleep on the sofa. That will also help them develop listening skills and empathy. However, be sure not to burden your kids with the stresses you are facing by turning them into sounding boards. That can turn into a slippery slope leading to trauma, even if you never intended to make that happen.
Always Show Your Kids Affection
Be sure to give your kids a hug and a kiss on the cheek daily, as parents who give their kids affection will have secure and well-rounded children. When you give your kids affection, they will know they are loved, which is very helpful to their self-esteem. And if they feel that they are loved because you are giving them affection, they will be more likely to go to you if they face troubles at school, such as bullying, which can, unfortunately, cause a lot of trauma on its own. But, on the other hand, if they feel comfortable with coming to you because you show them affection and the end is put to the bullying, that can save your child psychological problems later in life.
Always Praise Your Kids When They Deserve It
It is essential to praise your kids when they do something helpful or something appropriate. For example, if they are doing their chores without complaining, you need to honor them and tell them what an excellent job they did. Not only does praising your kids encourage better behavior, but it makes them feel loved and worthy. If they did chores and you never praised them for it, not only would they resent doing the chores, but that is something that would cause them not to feel loved. That will hurt your kids in the long run in many ways.
Take Your Kids For Drives When You Run Errands
If it is a weekend and your kids are not in school or at a weekend program, you will want to take them on drives as you run errands. That will allow you to spend quality time with them and make them feel good that you want them to come with you so you can talk to them and listen to them on the way to and back from running the errands. They can also help you load and unload groceries if you go grocery shopping with them. If they see that they are being made useful, that makes them feel good and giving them that opportunity also makes them feel loved.
Make Sure You Have Family Meals
It can be challenging if you are working at certain hours and your spouse is working at the hours, you are not, as family meals are not always realistic. However, if you cannot eat with your spouse because of working, then eat with your children or child. That bonding experience during dinner will also help them feel loved. Also, on weekends or days off, it is essential to have family meals, whether you eat at home or dine out.
Bedtime Rituals Are Important
One of the most important ways to help your children feel loved is by creating a bedtime ritual for them. For example, if they take a bath before bed, read them a bedtime story, and give them affection and cuddles before bed, that will help them feel loved. And your kids will remember that forever. If you don’t have a bedtime ritual for your kids, they can be more likely to be afraid to sleep, and they will feel as if they are alone. That will only cause them to feel insecure later in life.
Those are methods to help make your children feel loved, and you can consistently implement them even when you have a lot of other stressors in your life. And at the same time, you must find time for yourself, as self-care is also the key to giving your children the attention and love they need! Pouring from an empty cup will never cut it.
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