5 THINGS REAL PARENTS GET TO DO

1. Allow small interruptions.
I have come to learn that even the smallest interruptions have quite an impact on my little one, and even give me a moment to re-focus. Whether you are at your computer, working on a project around the house or just watching your favorite sports equipment on television, giving your children the blessing of interrupting from time to time is a wonderful thing.

Not only does it show you care, but it reminds them how important they are to you, even if the interruption only lasts a few minutes. Over and over again, I found myself inspired and refocused after leaving my computer to go play ball or blocks with my son; That is after he approached me with eyes that are simply impossible to say no. This does not happen every time, but I do sure know that more times than not, Dad is always available to play and spend time with, if only for a moment.
Give your children individual attention.
My wife and I are expecting our second child at the end of this year and we could not be more excited. But along with this emotion comes the fear of making one child feel less loved than the other. How do we balance our time? What if our eldest son becomes jealous and resentful?

We have realized that we will not always be able to live up to our children's individual expectations in life, but we can do everything we can to give each child the individual attention they need, as well as spend time with their children. brother . This can be exercised by taking one child to get ice cream with dad while the other goes to the park with mom or even something as small as doing a puzzle together while the other sibling is taking a nap. Regardless of what the adventure looks like, each child will be looking for individual attention, and balancing this time correctly will make for happy and encouraged children, no matter how small the amount of time.

3. Constantly remind your children how much you love them.
I can not begin to tell you how many people I've met who said they rarely heard their parents tell them they loved them, much less show some kind of affection for them growing up. I grew up in such a polar environment, and I do not know how I would have responded otherwise. Something about not telling your kids that you love them just does not make sense to me, and I can not imagine what it must feel like to be on the receiving end. Children need to hear that they are loved. Children need to know they are wanted.

There is something so comforting to hear that your mother and father tell you they love you. And there is something so peaceful and secure: to feel embraced with a warm embrace. I think this kind of affection really sets your kids up for success in life, and I would not encourage anyone to parents in any other way.

4. Allow your children to fail sometimes.
The "everyone is a winner" mentality is simply not a realistic approach to raising children, and I think it sets them up for failure in the real world. One of the things I like most about my dad is that he allowed me to try things like a kid, even if he knew I was going to fail them. It would give me as much wisdom as I could, and in the end I would use my failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. These are lessons that have taken me to my heart for almost 30 years, and I do not know where I would be today without them.

I remember the times that my sports teams won and my family would be happy as if I had just won a gold medal at the Olympic Games, but I also remember times when we would lose and my father would wrap my arm around me and tell me that I was still proud of Me and that, "you will get them next time". My parents taught me the valuable lesson that you will not win in everything you do in life, and that's fine. No one ever does. Learn from your losses and grow stronger.

Awesome parents teach their children to lose with dignity and win in humility. There really is no better way to do it.

5. Let your children see Mom and Dad show affection for each other.

One thing that my wife and I are never shy about is kissing, hugging and cuddling together in front of our son. We want him to know how much Mom and Dad love each other, and we're not afraid to be public about it, no matter how rude he thinks he is as he ages.

The way you and your husband model marriage in front of your children will be the model of marriage you celebrate in most of your life. So, show them a good example. Do not be afraid to have small arguments in front of your children, to kiss you in front of your children and to hold you in front of your children. Show them what a true marriage is like, and do not prepare them for failure when they decide to marry