Parenting 911
HELP! For Dysfunctionals
Dear Mothergoose,
I’m just a kid ( I hope that’s okay) but there’s something I need help with. I know what a ‘ normal’ family is like and mine, well, is definitely not ‘ normal’. I think they call it ‘ dysfunctional’. I love my mom and dad and everything ( most of the time. Well, some of the time, anyway.) but somebody needs to tell them a few things about how to make a dysfunctional family a good one anyway. Things have GOT to get better. Can you help?
Dear Love Your Mom and Dad,
Thank you for asking! In a way, every family is dysfunctional. Some parents yell, some kids are disrespectful, some moms work and have to leave kids alone or with a sitter, some dads are disabled or out of work, some parents are so busy working they forget to be with the kids. There is something going on in every house you walk by. Anyone who tells you different is selling something! But there are some things parents can do and some things kids can do to help make bad situations better. They may seem too obvious or too simple to make a difference but try it out. See what happens!
Parents can: 1. Be respectful of everyone, even if someone has done something terrible or hurtful. 2. Time together is crucial so, even with tough work schedules, make time for family and make the time with family worth it. 3. Relationships don’t just grow because you live under the same roof. Make the people around you feel that they are important to you, even when you are tired. 4. Share the load and the responsibility. If you teach children how to help out and expect them to do it, even let them know you NEED their help, they will feel their importance and learn to like contributing. 5. Say, “I’m sorry!” often. 6. Give a lot of physical attention, even if you are not that used to it. People need touch to thrive. 7. Pray for your family and others.
Kids can: A. See their parents as real people who are good at some things and not so good at others. B. Think of what you can do to help out. C. Make sure you take care of your own responsibilities. D. If Mom and Dad don’t live together, remember the rules of where you are. E. Kids can think of others first and surprise Mom and Dad by being a peacemaker. F. Don’t fight! G. Try to get enough sleep. H. Love people.
There are a lot of things both kids and parents can do to make every kind of family better. Things at home may not be ideal, but you do have a choice on how you contribute to the peace of the family. Building up people will build the family. It will build up you! Thank you for being brave enough to ask. Good luck!
Mothergoose loves questions from all ages. Write mothergoose911@yahoo.com.