Committed Parenting

When you think about it, probably the one thing that our children need most in order to grow up feeling loved, happy, and empowered enough to give of themselves to others is our commitment to them as parents. Our children must know that we have made a commitment to them and we must demonstrate that commitment constantly. When we decide to have a child we take on this commitment. It is the biggest commitment we will ever make. When one of our children is diagnosed with diabetes the commitment, significant enough to begin with, takes on a completely new and demanding aspect. We as parents are responsible for and to our children. We tie ourselves to them, sometimes at considerable cost to ourselves. We are required many times to put our children's needs before our own.

When we show our commitment to our children they feel we value, love and welcome them in our lives. When we don't they feel neglected, abandoned and alone. Think about how loneliness and abandonment affects you as an adult. One of our missions in life should be to never allow our actions to be the reason our precious children ever experience these feelings.

We can demonstrate our commitment to our children in various ways. When we are there to ask our children about school or their day. When we are willing to see things from their point of view. When we oversee and support their daily diabetes management. When we make sure they are clothed and fed properly. When we add privileges as they show us responsibility. When we show them respect and love.

Our children may perceive we are not committed to them for various reasons as well. When we aren't home much to be with them. When we are home but don't appear interested enough to play or talk to them. Separation or divorce, our children don't understand the intricacies of an adult relationship until they grow up. They often feel their parents didn't try hard enough to stay together. When one parent finds a new partner, children may see the transfer of some commitment to the new relationship. This can also cause our children feelings of vulnerability.

If our children feel any reason to doubt our commitment to them they may feel very vulnerable and find it hard to trust or commit themselves to other relationships, as they grow older. To be able to commit yourself to someone you must be willing to give and to lose something of yourself in the process, knowing that you will gain from the other person in the end. If our children haven't experienced our commitment they will defend themselves against more rejection. This will make it very hard for them to give of themselves in the future.

Our greatest fear should be that children who have not grown up in the love and security of committed parents, who haven't developed the ability to give of themselves and share love with others, will one day have children of their own.

Then the cycle will continue, and another child will be raised without the love, feelings of safety and belonging that committed parenting ensures.

About the Author
Russell Turner, USA
info@mychildhasdiabetes.com
http://www.mychildhasdiabetes.com

Russell Turner is the father of a 10 year old diabetic daughter. After she was diagnosed he soon discovered he could find all sorts of medical information on the internet. What he couldn't find was how to prepare his child and family for living with this disease. He started his own website for parents of newly diagnosed diabetic children http://www.mychildhasdiabetes.com

---

Your Child?s Self-Esteem is in The Cards

Research has shown that the present generation of children worldwide... Read More

Pet Loss Can Be Just As Devastating!

'And all because of a damned cat! It's only a... Read More

Surviving As A Single Parent: Seven Simple Suggestions To Make Your Life Easier

1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More

5 Tips For Talking To Your Children About What They See In The News

Mommy (Daddy), Why do those people want to hurt everyone?Last... Read More

Why Modern Moms Are Going Back to the Basics ? The Evolution of the Cloth Diaper

Having a baby is one of the most exciting times... Read More

Our Recommended Eating Program for ADHD

Below is a copy of our eating program for Attention... Read More

Should We Apologize To Our Children?

An apology is a sign of strength, not weakness. Sometimes... Read More

A Night Out For Mom & Dad

Is your babysitter watching the kids and your k9 family... Read More

Healthy Eating For Children: Six Simple Rules

Rule #1 Make Every Bite Count!Everything your child eats should... Read More

A Chance for a Home

"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds... Read More

Family Meals: When Dinner Schedules Dont Match

Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More

The 5 Babysitter Commandments

Having a babysitter take care of your kids is sometimes... Read More

The Homeopathic Nutraceutical Attend as an Alternative to Ritalin

You no longer have to use Ritalin or other stimulants... Read More

Authoritarian Parenting, Permissive Parenting, or Loving Parenting

Angie was brought up by rigid, authoritarian parents who kept... Read More

Picky Eater Syndrome

'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More

No Invitation Needed: Sacred Children Series - 3 of 3

I had my first two children on either side of... Read More

Stop, Look, Listen! Steps to Better Parenting Communication

As a parent is seems that the majority of your... Read More

Homeschooling ? Can I Do It?

Many parents would like to homeschool their children but are... Read More

Legacy to Your Children

John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What Do We Mean by Attention Anyway?

When we talk about attention, we are talking about two... Read More

Why have children? DINCs, This is For You!

First there were Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals). Then came the... Read More

Useful Jogger Stroller Accessories

There are many useful jogger stroller accessories out on the... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: What to Do When Your Teen Feels Left Out

On a recent Saturday evening, I noticed a young teen-age... Read More

Lets Pretend

Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More

Raising A High Maintenance Child

Do you have a high maintenance child?"Thank goodness my second... Read More

Parents Role in Helping with Car Wash Fundraisers

As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More

Tackle, Tackle

I don't know how people raise daughters because I have... Read More

Homework Help for the Attention Deficit Child

Does the homework battle so typical with your hyperactive or... Read More

Meningitis and Septicaemia

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain... Read More

Beyond the Words, a Childs Voice

Voices have a way of falling into a pattern, not... Read More

Entering Their Imaginative World

In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all... Read More

How Children Learn

Nurture and TeachThe single most important thing caregivers can do... Read More

Naming Your Baby Is Part of The Challenge of Being a Parent

Baby names are as diverse as the people to whom... Read More