- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Parents, Support Each Other
How to Show Appreciation to Fellow Moms and Dads
By Amy Dingmann
The easiest way to encourage and show appreciation for a fellow parent is to compliment them. Every parent has something they do well in regards to their children. Challenge yourself to find out what it is and serve up a hefty helping of compliments!
"The best compliment I receive is when people in the community tell me I have friendly, nice, caring kids," Jackson says. "To be honest, I really don't care whether or not I have the smartest kids in the classroom. It is more important for me to have good kids grounded in their convictions and morals."
If you're having a hard time figuring out what to point out to other parents in order to encourage them, think of yourself. What are you waiting for someone to notice about your parenting? What things have you been working on with your kids? Do you think another parent might be waiting for you to notice the same things about them?
"It's all too easy to judge other parents," says Dr. Richards, who has practiced psychiatry for 20 years. "Especially when we don't know exactly what they are up against."
It is common for parents to size up another family's situation and pass judgment, even if it is unintentional. We all view life through our own brand of filtered lenses (created from our experiences and beliefs), which can make it difficult to be objective or supportive of other parents.
"Seek first to undersand," Dr. Richards says. "Even the craziest of families has something to teach me. They are fellow human beings, trying to do their best under difficult circumstances. That child throwing a tantrum in the supermarket might have been 'spoiled.' Then again, he might have autism or bipolar disorder; he might be dealing with some family tragedy I know nothing about."
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
