Some moments can be ruined because you are trying to be a parent; there are moments when all your kid need is a friend or a confidant, not a parent. These moments can be when your children share something with you, maybe something to laugh about or something that bothers them. When these things are shared with us, the first instinct of a parent might be to pick out a lesson from there to advise them, but that can be done on a later date. Don’t get me wrong; if what was shared is disturbing, you have to correct it, but timing matters.

This is the reason why it is best to be your children’s parent and also their best friends. And being their best friends can’t be achieved if all you are always doing is correcting and pointing out their errors but instead you can;

Have a listening ear: Sometimes, all it takes to be a parent and a best friend is to listen to your kid. Not just hearing what they are saying but trying to see things from their point of view. This will not only make them want to talk to about things they enjoy but also things that bother them.

Make them feel at home and not like they are in front of a jury: It is a mistake that is commonly made among parents to chastise their children when they misbehave immediately. While it is right to scold them, sometimes all they need is the exact opposite, reasoning with them. This is because scolding them won’t give you the answer you need, neither will question and answer, and the reason for their misbehavior might be in those answers.

Correcting can be done while connecting: There is no manual for being the best parent as we do all have shortcomings, but one of the unacceptable weaknesses is not being able to connect with your child. Connecting with your child means you can do a lot of things, correcting inclusive, without pushing your child away. There are times when you have to be tough on your kids when correcting them, but that shouldn’t always be the case.