Having children is one of life’s greatest milestones. This means that you will always want to do what is best for your children, even when difficult times in life arise. Despite your best intentions, it could be that you are often busy with work and other commitments, which means you might struggle to be there for them whenever they need. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t follow some trusted tips to help you put your kids first. Luckily, such tips are easy to integrate into your daily routine, and you will fast see how much your children start to appreciate how much you are doing for them in life.
Cook healthy meals together
A big part of giving your child the best life you can is ensuring that they are eating a balanced diet. Such a diet not only contributes to an extended lifespan, but it will also do wonders for their mental health as they grow older. Unfortunately, children do struggle with eating healthy foods, as they have a reputation for being not as tasty as foods filled with sugar and additives. Yet, this doesn’t mean you can’t instill healthy eating habits in them, as there are many ways of making healthy meals and snacks. The best way to do this is by cooking such foods together so that your child can see what is going into the food and choose their own healthy flavorings. If you cook these foods together, you will also be able to indulge in their healthy choices, which means that your life will also benefit from eating well. In turn, you will be able to use this energy to invest in your children’s lives each day.
Encourage healthy hobbies
It is not just eating well which helps your children to lead a healthy life. In fact, you can also encourage them to choose hobbies that will benefit them the most in life. These hobbies are usually those like sports, creative activities, and ones which enable them to help the wider community. Giving them this time to spend enjoying themselves will give them a renewed enthusiasm for their studies, as their love of their hobbies will help them to try in all areas of their life. It is also widely accepted that exercise leads to stronger bones, an alert mind, as well as improved mood from all the chemicals that are released into the brain. Giving them this gift of time is one of the best things you can do to let your child flourish in the world.
Be their cheerleader
Although their hobby may be where their health comes first, your child will also start to develop passions in their life, like art or writing. Although it is right to want your child to excel academically, there are also many studies to suggest that letting them do what they love has a positive impact on their happiness, as well as on future job prospects. When your child starts to become passionate about something, make sure you let them. Moreover, it is wise to be their cheerleader and push them to do what they love, even if they change their mind.
Always be there for them
A big part of being a cheerleader for your child is always there for them whenever they are feeling down. This means offering them a shoulder to cry on and a hug at the end of a rough day. In the long run, your child will become affectionate and warm to those around them in need, which means you are raising a helpful and selfless person. Sometimes, you may not be able to be there when you have long hours at work, or when there are some other emotional commitments you must deal with. This can lead to your child feeling as though they have no one to turn to, but this is also something that can be easily avoided. For example, you can prepare them a special box full of reassuring items, which they can always go to when they need comfort. Such a box should have their favorite comfort treats, a soft blanket, as well as some hand-written notes to show that you will be there for them even when you’re busy. Another great idea is decorating their room with them when they are old enough to have creative input, as they will always see that space as something you built together, and which is a great comfort. This may seem small, but these ideas are a reminder of your constant presence, and how you will do anything you can to keep them happy.
Don’t bring them into conflict
Unfortunately, there will be times when you and your spouse go through rocky patches, which can happen both in healthy and unhealthy marriages. Such conflicts can affect children in ways you never expect, and can even cause long-term problems that have a negative impact on their mental health and ability to form healthy relationships. Sometimes, these conflicts can be resolved, but you should still never argue in front of your kids, or loud enough so they can hear. In other times, divorce becomes a likely possibility, which can make it impossible to maintain the same home environment, even if it is the best decision. During such times, you can still put your kids first when you are feeling low, by choosing a lawyer that will help your divorce process be as smooth as possible, and by hiring a child support lawyer to make the process easier for your kids to deal with. Although in these times it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, you will become a stronger family unit if you go about the process in the best way you can.
Build their savings
Ensuring your child has a happy life at the moment is key to their happiness, but you should also think about the future. Every parent wants their child to grow into a kind and loving person, but that is not all there is to it. In fact, there may come a day when they want to travel the world or go to college. In the modern world, doing this is easier than ever, but it also comes at a great financial cost. Although your child will likely find a part-time job as a teenager, they will still need help funding their dreams. Even if you are short on money, you can help towards these dreams and future career by building a savings plan from the moment they are born. This is made manageable when you take a small chunk out of your wage slip each month, which can build up over time to make a large lump sum. Placing this money in a high-interest account, investing it in shares wisely, and saving spare change each day are all ways you can see a healthier return on their savings. It will also teach them about being responsible with money from a young age.
Show a strong work ethic
As a working parent, it is likely that you will be the main source of inspiration for your kids to look up to when they start to think about the future that lies ahead of them. This means it is imperative for you to show a strong work ethic in your daily life, as these are habits your kids will pick up in both school and work. Showing them to persevere when times are tough, to not compromise on what is best for them, and to work hard for those around you are all valuable life skills that they will benefit from in the years to come. Even if your job is maintaining a home, you can show your kids that putting effort into everything in life will, in turn, give them many happy memories. Most importantly, you can help them debunk the myth that to be successful means to earn lots of money and that their happiness will only come if they pursue careers and hobbies that they love doing.
Don’t put work first
It is easy to assume that having a strong work ethic means putting work above everything else in life, but this is not the case. In fact, part of such an ethic is to learn when to work hard, and when to relax. When you are trying to coordinate the balance between work and home, you should always remind yourself that work doesn’t come before kids. Although working a lot to save for their future will be greatly appreciated when they are much older, there is no point in spending so much time making such money if you don’t get to share the holidays and excursions with them. If their first port of call is their babysitter or nanny over you, then you should consider cutting back the hours at work to spend your precious free moments with them. If this is not an option, then you can make the most of each weekend by planning fun days out and weekend breaks with them.
