We like to start off each month with tips and ideas from our parenting expert, Jenny Schafer of Evolved Parenting. This month Jenny takes a look at how taking care of yourself is part of positive role modeling.
Taking an honest look at yourself is part of being the best parent you can be, after all you are your child’s greatest role model – as scary as that may seem sometimes.
When you take care of yourself, have pride in who you are and present yourself as a strong, compassionate, healthy, loving and positive person, you are a positive role model, teaching your children how to respect themselves and live their best lives as well.
We all know that kids love to play “grown up”. They watch and absorb everything we say and do. So what are you teaching your child to say and do?
Rather than judgmental or insulting, the following checklist can be used to shed some light on how well you take care of yourself.
How often do you do the following:
- Shower/bathe
- Eat healthy meals & snacks
- Exercise
- Challenge yourself intellectually (e.g. read, work on projects, etc)
- Feed your spiritual self (e.g. write in your journal, read, meditate/pray, etc.)
- Spend time with friends
- Have “you” time
- Sleep at least seven hours a night
- Smoke, drink or do drugs in front of/around your children
- Eat junk food
- Spend most of your free time watching TV or playing video games?
Admittedly at some stages of parenting sleeping seven hours a night isn’t a possibility, but when you take the best care of yourself that you can, you’re providing positive and healthy role modeling for your children. You’re also passing down an invaluable lesson – how to live a life filled with passion, joy and self-respect.
Jenny Schafer, creator of Evolved Parenting, is a mother, social worker, trained daycare provider and former nanny. For more information visit www.evolvedparenting.ca or email Jenny your parenting questions at jenny@evolvedparenting.ca.