Under Grumpa's Hat

Ah, the delight of raising children. We often believe we’ve mastered the art, assuming it will come naturally. However, entering parenthood without prior experience quickly dispels that notion, revealing the challenges that are not as straightforward as anticipated. Discovering the unique needs and behaviors of each child becomes apparent, all while contending with external influences and the heightened pressures imposed by today’s increasingly hectic society, affecting both the children and us.

Nevertheless, couples continue to embrace parenthood, driven by the unparalleled love parents experience for their children. Despite the complexities, seasoned parents are eager to impart a few valuable lessons to those who are just starting this journey. We recently looked at 40 things to teach our children and long those lines, here are 10 rules of wisdom:

1. Avoid Giving your child everything he asks for. He will grow up believing that he has the right to get everything he wants.
2. Avoid laughing when your child speaks insulting words. He will grow up thinking that disrespect is entertainment.
3. Avoid remaining insensitive to bad behaviour that he can display without scolding him for it. He will grow up thinking that there are no rules in society.
4. Avoid picking up anything that your child messes up. He will grow up believing that others must take responsibility for his mess.
5. Avoid letting him watch whatever he wants on TV or internet. He will grow up thinking that there is no difference between being a child and being an adult.
6. Avoid giving your child all the money he asks for. He will grow up thinking that getting money is easy and will not hesitate to steal for it.
7. Always avoid putting yourself on his side when he is wrong against the neighbours, his teachers, the police. He will grow up thinking that everything he does is right, it is the others who are wrong and he can always get away with everything. And he will disrespect authority.
8. Avoid leaving him alone at home when you go to the place of worship, otherwise he will grow up thinking that God does not exist.
9. If you disagree with your spouse, do not take your child’s side in front of him. Support your spouse at the time, and discuss in private later. If not, he will grow up knowing that he can play one person against another to get what he wants.
10. Set rules to follow, bed time, dinner time, homework time, and hold him to it. Otherwise, he won’t have the necessary discipline to manage his time later in life.

But never, ever forget to show him love and support. May our labour over our children not be in vain.