How to be the 'perfect' parent?

Question

What if we are not 'good' enough?

Answer 1

Wow..Never knew that they was such thing as a Perfect Parent.As far as good enough,we as parent try to show our children how to respect and grow up to be successful adults in the world.We do our best to show them the different between right and wrong.Hoping that when they turn into adults,they will do their best in life.As long as you show your children that you love them and care for them and there when they need you.Why should you worry about being a perfect parent.Seems to me,the children are going to know that their parents/parent did their best to raise them and show them the good things in life.What more would a kid want?

Answer 2

The "perfect parent" is a myth invented by the media and the press to sell magazines. The picture of the skinny, beautiful mum with immaculate make up in a perfect house with the cushions pumped to perfection, rolling around with a perfect chuckling baby are c**p. The reality is dirty dishes in the sink, tired overweight mum harrassed and stressed with screaming baby trying to live up to an ideal which is non existent.
Relax, do your best, listen to your gut instinct when dealing with your kids, if your really not sure get advice from professionals. If no when you make a mistake admit it get over it and move on. Most important ENJOY your kids, there only young once everything else can wait.

Answer 3

Ok there is not such thing as a perfect parent. You are going to make mistakes with your kids and you should just learn from them. I think that your child will always think that you are good enough. I am a first time mom with a 23 month old child and I make mistakes, but I have learned from them. You can always ask people for adive on what to do.

Answer 4

My parents are not "perfect" but I still love them! No parent I think can be "perfect". Just do not harm the kid enough to put them in the hospital, and you are good enough!

Answer 5

Being 'good enough' is not the same as being 'perfect'. There is no such thing as the 'perfect parent'! But so long as you love your children and try to do your best for them, that is all you can do really. We all just try to muddle along and hope our kids don't end up too screwed up!

Answer 6

We never are. We can only do our best.

Unfortunately, as parents we are influenced by our own upbringing and:

(i) wanting to avoid dishing out what was done to us, or believing that "if it was good enough for me - it's good enough for my kids".
(ii) Forgetting that each child is an individual and that how you approach giving love and discipline cannot be applied the same to all children in the family without compromising one of their sense of self. (e.g. some sensitive children need very little to be said to them to be corrected - others have a "tougher" aspect.
(iii) that sometimes we love them too much and don't do what we need to.
(iv) in a world where the majority of both parents are working this naturally will lead to some extra difficulties due to lack of parental presence.
(v) working women come ho,me and instead of being able to focus on their children, in the majority of cases, have to take responsibility for the household chores. Meanwhile, the chaps just get seated on the sofa reading the newspaper!

Answer 7

There is no such thing as the perfect parent. Anything you do for your child is going to be perfect cause they won't know any better, trust me everything will be just fine. You learn from your mistakes, and a child will too.

Answer 8

"All you need is Love"
Try not to get so busy with your own needs that you forget/neglect your childs needs. Always leave room in your life to spend quality time with your partner & children. Help them develop practical hobbies(painting, drawing, making stuff!). Learn to watch & Listen, does it make you cringe when a parent "goes off on one", shouting uncontrollably at their child - you might end up doing the same thing yourself! - make time to watch your precious offspring grow & develop. Try not to panic about cleanliness, let them make mudpies in the garden with muck/kitchen utensils & plantpots.Yes they will get hurt-it's part of the learning process! just protect them from the life threatening stuff. If they do wrong, let them know immediately, a smack(no bruising please!) gets their attention, especially when they've done something that's especially bad/dangerous. When they're good praise them.
Don't ever promise anything unless your absolutely sure you can live up to that promise.
Most important- no matter how old they get, try to ensure they feel that they can always talk to you about anything and everything, open your heart to them,be supportive, show your emotion, cry,laugh and above all, Have some fun!!!!
Try not to lay down silly rules, like "you can't watch this video because it's a 15 and your only 14", explain what the guidelines are for. Try not to be too restictive when they're going through the awkward teens/exams phase-don't you remember of difficult it was?
PS if left out loads of advice, because there's load's of it, and you only realise which bits are good/bad when you've realised yourself by "having a go".
Kids are great, help bring up a well developed individual!
(Did I write all that- I'm getting to sound like my Mom/Dad!!)
Best Regards, Dave.

Answer 9

Remember what you were like when you were that age and kids ages to come.

Be realisitic and remember the tricks...

There is no such think as kid. Magic puff of light on 18th birthday and instant fully mature adult or at 21...

The bit in the middle is what childhood is preparation for and when your kid will need you the most as they grow up but not in the same way as when they were in little kid.

A good teacher is the one who remembers why classes were borning and instead of doing the same dumb things... comes up with new stuff how they would have liked it and on what they have learnt.

They know all the tricks and scams and can predict what kids are going to do (as they wrote the book).

Its the same with parenting.

Answer 10

Hello Firefly first of all there is no such thing as a perfect parent because we are all human and humans make mistakes.
Please don't try to be a perfect parent just concentrate on loving your children and teaching them to be good people.