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It’s every parent’s dream to give their children the kind of life they didn’t get when they were young. And to achieve this, there’s nothing parents wouldn’t sacrifice as long as their children are happy and comfortable.
But, sometimes, when children begin to exhibit certain undesirable traits or behaviors, parents start to feel like they’re not doing enough to make their kids happy. No parent likes to see their child struggle, so they look for help everywhere except in the right place – their children.
Many a time, to identify and understand what causes dissatisfactory behavior in a child, parents only need to communicate with them. However, this isn’t always the case. Parents would seek help from outside rather than look inward.
We need to understand that our children desire to be as close to us as possible. They want to talk to us freely without fear of prejudice. Here are some of the numerous things our children want us to know.
Image: IStock
- I know it’s tough for you to see me in this manner. But that shouldn’t stop you from looking out for yourself. Instead of worrying about my troubles, spend time living a full life. Knowing you’re doing okay would warm my heart.
- One thing I wish for is to not be judged by criteria that determine success in the productivity race. The productivity race puts unnecessary pressure on me to constantly push myself based on what society thinks is worthwhile. If I go any further, I will break.
- Don’t know how to help me? All you need to do is ask me, don’t assume. Your concern would mean a lot to me. The idea of not being alone in this strengthens my resolve to get over my troubles.
- When I hear clichés like “it’s all in your head” and its multiple variants, I get frustrated. These are statements I don’t want to hear because they sound to me like my feelings are being invalidated.
- We need to get a little less serious and bring back those times when we did a lot of fun things together at home, such as singing, laughing, and doing many silly things.
- I know you want to help. And maybe you don’t know how. But, when you say “please do it for me”, it makes me feel guilty, and that makes it tougher. I am going through a very difficult stage of depression, and such statements make it difficult for me to overcome my depression.
- I know my grades are not good, I weigh a ton, and I don’t have many friends. I know this makes you disappointed in me. But you don’t have to constantly remind me of this with your malicious statements. Trying to manipulate me into rethinking my reality is unfair.
- What if you appreciate the small things I do? It might not be significant, but keeping in mind the amount of effort I put into doing them, I would love that, instead of dismissing them with snide comments.
- No parent loves to see their child in pain, so I understand your dissatisfaction with my situation. In the end, what I hope is that my challenges don’t make you see me in a different light.
- I wish I were doing this to myself deliberately. If I were, then it’d be less difficult getting out of it. But I am not. I’m consumed by a deep anxiety that has stolen everything that makes me happy and fulfilled. But, with your belief and trust in me, I’m sure I can turn things around and be the person I know I can become.
Parenting is fun and challenging at the same time. You can prepare for years for those times when you’d become a parent, only to realize it’s nothing as it says in the books you read. If you’re having a tough time with your kids, try to get close to them and make them know you’re there for them no matter what.
