By Sarah Chana Radcliffe
How do you know when to push your child and when to lay off? How do you know when to push your child and when to back off? Could your child do better if only you would be on her case? Probably...but at what cost? Will your child react to the pressure with stress and anxiety? Or with resentment toward YOU? Or is she exaggerating her misery manipulatively in order to get YOU off her back? You know your youngster. If you see that she's suffering physically or mentally, take it seriously. If there's not enough laughter and love between you, take that seriously as well. School performance doesn't make or break a person - but a broken parent-child bond certainly can.
Independence can be stifled or nurtured - it's your call... Build your child's problem-solving skills by allowing him to solve his problems. Don't rush in to find his lost objects, decide which project he should do, pick out his clothes or his breakfast, or figure out how to handle his social dilemmas. Go ahead and help him think things through, but wait until HE offers ideas and solutions before offering any of your own and whenever possible, just don't offer any of your own!
