Parents are always concerned about their child, which is normal. Parents’ worry about their child’s safety, health, and education, personal development the list is endless. It only becomes an issue when the worrying crosses into the realm of suspicion or imagination.
Given that we have fewer children these days per family parents want the best for their child, but in the pursuit of the best they can become helicopter parents monitoring and hovering over their child’s each and every move. Parents can sometimes read too much into a situation that actually does not warrant their attention and anxiety.
Saying that, it is important to strike a balance between knowing which are issues that need to be addressed versus non-issues that should not be unnecessarily blown out of proportion. The result will be that your child will begin to suffer from a problem where none existed.
1) When we ‘suspect’ or ‘imagine’ an issue that our child might be facing – it might be just that. There is the possibility that the child is not feeling the issue or feeling the problem. Have an unbiased view and give her the benefit of doubt.
2) Please do not create a problem where none exists. By unnecessarily pointing out issues that are non-existent you might be putting things into hermind and actually make her feel that she has a problem when she is completely oblivious.
3) Parents tend to reflect their own weaknesses on their child. I have heard many parents who are poor in maths put their own child for maths tuitions. Or parents who have weight issues monitor their child’s food habits. If you have an issue work to resolve that rather than monitor your child to prevent him suffering from that.
4) Refrain from being helicopter parents and reading too much into your child’s life and her problems. By ‘looking’ for the problem in your child you will have the effect of making her conscious of it when she herself wasn’t to begin with.
5) Trust that your child has the confidence and resources to overcome challenges that come her way. Be the supportive parent but not the unnecessary worrier. Support your child and hold the space of trust and confidence in your child that she will overcome issues in her own time.