What would you say is the biggest mistake that a parent can make durnig the course of raising their child?

Question

Sorry...fat fingers...
the word should be during

Answer 1

i think there are plenty of mistakes people can make while raising their child

some more common ones are

not presenting a united front of both parents when laying down the boundaries for a child

trying to live through a child rather than allowing a child to find out for themselves what they are good at and who they get on with

not listening to all sides of an argument before taking action

putting their own careers before their own children

abusing or failing to prevent the abuse of a child


but to get it all in perspective - we as parents get quite a long time to shape and mold our children - in general terms that is time to put right mistakes we make - children are generally rather forgiving of honest parental mistakes

Answer 2

Hmmmm, being a teacher and not a parent (yet, hope to one day) I found this to be both a fascinating question and a difficult one to answer. In my opinion, "the biggest mistake a parent can make
during the course of raising their child" would be not to recognize/validate their child's feelings. Children learn about feelings by watching others until they are old enough to either physically know the difference or identify various emotions. As they grow older, children learn how to express themselves. I feel that it is important for parents to be able to LISTEN to their child and not just hear him/her. Parents need not only to listen, and recognize their child's emotion but a parent must also validate what their child is saying. In doing so, communication between parent and child is not only open but respect grows. Hopefully, trust and honesty would also grow. Furthermore, I feel that a child also views another side of love...taking the time to understand, spending time with me, showing an interest and so on. In time, it is only hoped that the child can demonstrate those same qualities with his/her own relationships as well within the family.

Answer 3

I think "biggest" isn't the correct term to use. SO many things can influence a child's life in the wrong way. I'll give you some examples:

Letting the child see pornography.
Angry parents make messed-up kids.
Showing the child an unhealthy relationship (mother and father fighting all the time, cheating, etc.)
Parents doing drugs in front of the children.
Not spending quality time with the child.

Answer 4

The biggest mistake that a parent can make while raising a child is to think that child belongs to them. The child being raised is only LOANED to the parents for about 10 years. After that the child is his own person, and you better be willing to accept it.'

Answer 5

there are so many mistakes to make parenting. But i think the biggest Mistakes are first not listning to ur child and then, Not letting ur child develope his or hers own IDENINITY. I made the mistake of "making excuses for my son, oh he has no daddy, ect,ect, ect, now my son is 12 yrs old and he is waiting on mom to still make excuses for him... DON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE

Answer 6

Well there are lots of parenting mistakes - just watch nanny 911.

My personal observation (mother of 6) is allowing too much TV-

Limit TV and never let them have a TV in their room. When they spend too much time with TV, children tend to be more lazy, obese, takes time away from schoolwork and household chores.

Answer 7

There's too many to write them all down even the best of parent make lots of mistakes if they are honest

Answer 8

Trying to be a friend instead of a parent. Kids want and need limits. They will have many friends but only one mother and father.

Answer 9

The worst is to make the child feel they are inadequate, un-lovely, and not worthwhile. Most mistakes are fixable but those are very difficult to undo.

Answer 10

Having no discussions of any importance for the first twelve years and then expecting to have a great communicative relationship with their teenager.