RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN
The Parent-Child Relationship is one that nurtures the physical, emotional and social development of the child. It is a unique bond that every child and parent will can enjoy and nurture. This relationship lays the foundation for the child’s personality, life choices and overall behaviour.
Being a parent is rewarding.
Being a parent is hard.
“PARENTS SHOULD BE FRIENDLY WITH THEIR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN DISCUSS EVERY PROBLEM WITH PARENTS”.
The experience is, in fact, filled with dichotomies. Time goes so slow…time flies. You can’t wait until your child walks… your anxiety rises as they walk, no, run independently.
1. The relationship isn’t voluntary!
Unlike many other situations in which a person can enter or leave a relationship without a great amount of conflict and energy, a parent-child connection is what researchers call a “closed field.”
2. There are oodles of interactions!
Parents and children interact more with each other than in any other relationship. Typically there are predictable patterns of behaviour and routines.
3. Expectation is the great influencer.
Strong expectations often exist in parent-child interactions and both parents and children make constant adjustments to their usual behavior around these expectations.
4. A “forever” future exists.
Parent-child relationships carry expectations of a shared future. Both parent and child have long term goals for the relationship that influences most interactions.
5. Growing up changes everyone.
Parents and children grow older together, and experience the changes in themselves, and their relationships together. It is not only about the incredible changes in children over time, but parents are aging and transitioning in critical ways too. The changes consistently evolve the relationship over time.