Be a Role Model, Share your Values

By Julie Prescott

Everyday you model your values to your child. But how do you feel about honesty, morality, respect, responsibility, trust, sexuality, and other values? "Be a Role Model" helps you define your personal values to teach your child.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julie Prescott
• Release date: Apr 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9780983467113

Julie Prescott

Julie has been writing her thoughts and fancies since she was a teen. "It is a marvelous way to empty your brain, for the moment," Prescott relays.When she became a single parent at the age of 27, Prescott knew there had to be help available, besides Dr. Spock's book. She didn't start writing the Single Parent Wisdom series until her three children and two step children were adults. She found looking back was the way to help others. She could see what worked and what didn't. What she worried and fretted about when they were young that didn't need so much attention. Prescott asked others to help answer questions she had when the children were young, but now the children were grown. Over 100 former single parents with young children who were now adults, answered her questions and the series: Single Parent Wisdom: If only I knew then what I know now...

Book preview

Be a Role Model, Share Your Values

by Julie Prescott

Smashwords Edition

Wynot Publications, Overland Park, Kansas

Copyright 2018 Wynot Publications

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Understand Your Own Personal Values

Identify Priorities, Set Goals

Improve Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem

Show Compassion, Caring

Be Responsible

Find Good Role Models for Your Children

Talk About Sexuality, a Natural Part of Life

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Appendix: Our Family Notebook

Disclaimers

Bibliography and Resources

Other Books by Author

About the Author

Introduction

Until you become a parent, the values and standards by which you live every day often lie quietly, unnoticed, in your brain. But now you are responsible for another living being! You need to set consequences for misbehavior. Eventually, you will have that talk with your child about a first date. To do this, it is important for you to understand what you really believe. As the number one role model in your child’s life, you demonstrate values with your behavior every day. It is time to take notice of what you are modeling.

I was a single parent for 11 years. My three children and two step children are now adults. Still puzzled about questions I had while parenting, I seek the answers to help those given the awesome and heavy responsibility to raise a child today. Interviewing parents like me — single parents when their children were young, but now their children are grown — we find the answers. Who better to tell us what works and what does not than solo parents who have made all of the decisions and handled all of the responsibility. From our experiences, we have learned when to listen to the experts and when to realize we actually do know best. We know when to let the matter slide and when to seek help. We are wiser. We are your SPWisdom support group.

A few key points stand out from the interviews and questionnaires answered by our solo parents:

Be Consistent

Be consistent about the BIG problems. Teach the values that are important to you. Consistency provides stability and structure that your children need. Have faith in your judgment. When you are in doubt, there are books for many problem areas, workshops to attend, and people to talk with about parenting choices. You are not alone in this venture.

♦ It’s natural to be inconsistent about the little stuff, depending on how much energy you have that day.

* * *

Be Patient and Loving

Your child needs to know that you love her now and forever. Every day, tell and show your child that she is important in your life.

* * *

Time is Short

♦ Choose your battles. Not all fights are worth the outcome.

♦ Be proactive. Take charge of your life. Take the steps to control what happens to your family.

♦ Do your best.

♦ Your child will be an adult before you know it.

* * *

Be Age-Appropriate with your Child

Expecting a child to handle challenges beyond her ability may frustrate, scare, upset, confuse, or harm her. As the parent or guardian, you need to be aware of what the child can handle at her current physical, social, emotional, and intellectual level.

The comments in this book are not designated for a certain age. You will need to decide when a suggestion or tip is Age-Appropriate to apply to your child. Some advice is meant for preschoolers but not for teens, and vice versa.

For a better understanding of what to expect at what age, search your local library, school or internet for child development information.

* * *

Reduce the Chaos

Don’t accept chaos as a natural part of your life. Change something. Aim for a calm household. Have structure in your days. Life gets better when you remove the chaos.

* * *

Be a Role Model

Every now and then you will be reminded that you are your child’s number one role model. She watches everything you do and say. Make her proud!

* * *

Live in the Present — Plan for the Future

There will never be another NOW.

Learn from the past. Don’t dwell on it.

Make tomorrow what you want it to be.

That is your choice in life.

Children don’t relate to a parent with an unhappy past:

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