Positive Parenting – change your attitude to visualize the current situation

After a short break, I am back into action. The month-long #A2Z challenge was so much fun. You can read my #A2Z2020 posts here. And to check out what was I doing during the mini-break, listen to the new episodes of MothersGurukulPodcast where I am doing book reading and on my Hindi channel, I talked about how to take your passion to the next level. 

It’s been quite a few days since I have written any parenting post. So, I am back with a fun series. It is inspired by the #A2Zchallenge. I decided to decode the word parent in my way taking one alphabet at a time  and build my posts around current circumstances, or call it a new normal. This lockdown has become our new normal. We are learning many things each day. We are experiencing a new version of ourselves each day. It is so surprising how quickly we adjust to new circumstances about which we would have complained in the old normal. See! Now I am also addressing it as new and old normal. 🙂

With everything changing around us, how can our parenting style remain untouched? Parenting has undergone many changes. When our parents were kids when we were kids, and now when we are parents. With every generation, parenting has become different, somewhat challenging.

Let’s start with the first alphabet in the word PARENTING. For P, I am going to talk about Positivity or positive parenting. These days, we are engaged in some creative work. We are trying to make the best of our time at home. Initial few weeks were hard, but slowly we all have gotten accustomed to it. For this, we should pat our backs. It is not easy to adjust to this drastic change in our lifestyle. But kudos to all of us for doing it. Talking about parenting, then we are doing an excellent job. Kids are home 24×7. Their studies, activity classes, and even birthday celebrations are taking place virtually. Not all kids have their laptops, which means we have to let go of our phones as well. But, are we cribbing? No. We are not. We are keeping our cellphone 100% charged so that our kids can continue their online learning. We are postponing or adjusting our phone calls because they need the phone free. What is all this? To me, this is positivity in our attitude. Positive parenting does not limit to having patience, staying calm, not losing our sanity, and when kids test our patience. It also means changing our attitude to visualize the current situation. Earlier, if we had to discontinue any call, it used to upset us. But today, we happily let that go. So, kudos to all of us for this positivity. We should be proud of ourselves.

Let’s see how we can continue to practice positive parenting during the corona time:

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• Follow the consistent daily routine as well as special events: Kids’ usual routines have been profoundly disrupted. Establishing new ones can help kids feel safe and act as a “stability anchor” during times of stress. In addition to the daily routine, post special, positive events for kids to look forward to. It has seen that anticipating future event causes brain activity that co-relates to human well-being.

• Let them choose some of what they want to learn: Instead of having children finishing up worksheets, let them pick something that they want to learn. They tend to be more persistent when they choose their own goals.

• Self-calming methods: Invest some time in practicing self-calming practices like Yoga, meditation, going to bed early, and slowing down.

• Something you can look forward to: Set up a conference call or a video chat with friends, or baking with kids.

• Try to keep up with the routine: With everyone at home, it is quite possible to get distracted from the schedule. Make and check off the daily list of tasks. Checking things off from the list gives a feel-good feeling.

• Acknowledge kids’ feeling: Just like us, it’s a new normal for kids as well. At times, their sadness may look like boredom, anger, numbness, tiredness, resistance, or frustration. We need to understand their feelings. Asking kids how they are doing, how their online learning going, are they are to cope up each night before bed and responding with compassion can help.

• Give hugs and show warmth: Increase in physical touch, hugs can keep the stress level in control. Young kids cannot express their feeling. Consider reading a book on your lap, or a pat on the back, snuggles, and hugs.

We have pulled it this far. A little more. I am sure; once things will get back to normal, we will see a new version of ourselves.

To check out what was I doing during the mini-break, listen to the new episodes of MothersGurukulPodcast where I am doing book reading and on my Hindi channel, I talked about how to take your passion to the next level.

Happy parenting..actually positive parenting:) !!