What Kind of Parent Are You?

Goldilocks had it right when she went into the Three Bears home. She was hungry and tasted the three bowls of porridge. One was too hot, one too cold, only the last one was just right. Authoritative parents are too hot. It's my way or the highway. They parent by fear and the relationship with their children is lost. Permissive parents are too cold. Allowing their children to get away with misbehavior, after all, kids will be kids, sends a message of entitlement. I can do what I want, and with no consequences. To these kids, their parents are only a means to an end, still with no meaningful relationship. Mindful parenting is just right. We find an understanding of needs and feelings for both parents and their children, engage in meaningful problem-solving with both reward and consequence, maintaining accountability and supervision without sacrificing relationship. With mindful parenting, there are lots of relationship-building teachable moments.