7 Signs You’re a Better Parent Than You Think

When you bear the responsibility of raising a child, you want to succeed in your mission as best you can and be the best parent possible. The journey is generally strewn with pitfalls and we can easily doubt our abilities to fulfill this role correctly. Here are seven signs that you’re a good parent, regardless of your doubts.

You love your children no matter what

As parents, we want the best for our children, in all aspects of their lives. Their success and happiness are paramount. This is why it is easy to feel guilty if we cannot offer them all the “materials” they may need, such as expensive leisure activities, expensive trips or schooling in a very expensive private establishment.

But in psychology, numerous studies have shown that this is not what matters for a child. The love, support, quality time and physical affection you can give him means more to him.

You are willing to prioritize them

When you become a parent, you naturally become altruistic, in most cases. The priorities that we may have had, before having children, change drastically and our needs or desires seem less important than before.

According to a study carried out by scientists at the University of Wollongong in Australia, this represents the characteristics specific to parents, whose objective is to ensure the safety and protection of their child.

You don’t solve all your child’s problems

When faced with a child in difficulty, it can be instinctive to want to help them. However, sometimes it is necessary to let him fend for himself. Indeed, by helping to “fix” what is wrong, you are actually depriving your child of an opportunity to grow. Because for children to learn to do difficult things, you have to let them go through difficult times.

So instead of doing it for them, give them all your support. “I like to compare parents and guardians to scaffolding on buildings: our job is to provide our children with the support they need while helping them develop the tools to solve their problems. Being there, talking to them as they face difficult challenges is what makes them resilient.” believes Meghan Walls, psychologist specializing in early childhood.

You don’t have to take control

When a parent is in control, attempting to instill discipline in their children, to guide them in what they believe to be the right direction, it usually backfires. On the contrary, the right attitude to adopt is rather caring parenting, which focuses on:

• Good communication with your child, which takes into account their thoughts, feelings, ideas and opinions;
• An encouragement for him to become independent;
• Involvement in their progress and support to help them learn from their experiences.

You are reliable

Children need daily stability and routine. If you are there for them and meet their needs consistently, that is the key to successful parenting. This does not mean allowing them everything. On the contrary, imposing limits on them is necessary for their proper development.

You are aware of your mistakes

Successful parenting isn’t about thinking you’ve done everything right. It’s about being willing to think, learn and grow as a parent. This therefore means that we are capable of questioning ourselves, accepting our mistakes and “underestimating” ourselves in order to leave ourselves some room for progress, so to speak.

You like to take time for yourself

As a parent, you can quickly feel guilty about leaving your child to take time for yourself. Prioritizing your child’s needs is essential, but be careful not to ignore your own needs. Playing sports, having a hobby or taking time for yourself should not make you think that you are a bad person and even more so, a bad parent. Quite the contrary. Generally speaking, the most fulfilled children are those raised by parents with the right balance between kindness and firmness, with clear limits.

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