What makes a good parent?

I work with a lot of kids at our residential counseling center in Texas, called Heartlight.  And after years of meeting with hurting parents and teens, I’ve seen over and over again that moms and dads are really trying to be good parents.  And they are!

But in their zeal to care for their kids and protect them from a harmful world… they end up suffocating them, instead.  So, let me, first, affirm that your love and commitment are wonderful.  Keep it up.

But, second, let the reigns out a little bit for your child.  The values you’ve built into them so far will help them survive in the world.  Just keep loving them… and avoid the temptation to smother.

When you’re tempted to control …let ‘em go!

 

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