Parenting works like personal training and a Chicago mom of two teenagers realized the similarities. She actually compared the job of parenting to the nearest career she can think of — a personal trainer. Here are important things that she realized, which could be helpful to other parents as well.
Colleen Sall wrote in Chicago Now that parents struggle with creating a real foundation to build aspirations, create an actual path and being able to manage detours and roadblocks with resiliency for their children. To shed light, she compared parenting to the job of a personal trainer.
Parents, who usually know their children like no other, know the potential of their children, just like how the personal trainers to their clients. Sall said parents see what circumstances make their children soar with pride and when their children feel the most confident.
Sall also added that parents see what makes their children crumble. With that said, parents really do know best. From this realization, they create a vision for their children, which they know is tailored to their children's personal goals.
Just like a personal trainer, Sall underscored that parents have to be relentless, saying, "Your 'client' wants to give in and take life easy - which is important to do SOME of the time - to keep a happy mental balance." However, the best personal trainer will make the "client" feel a bit guilty if they late-cancel or miss a regular training schedule when they know they really do not have a good excuse.
The good thing is the fact that personal trainers celebrate the victories of their clients, just like what parents do. In addition, trainers don't mince words when their clients have to hear it, which Sall noted as very important when parenting a child. She said when her children asked if they played well, performed well and scored well, she would tell them the truth.
Dr. Miller Shivers, a clinical child psychologist at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital, said instead of saying to the kids "what a beautiful dive," parents should tell their children "I see you're working on your diving," according to Parents. The child psychologist noted that parents should define the action of their children as good or bad while letting the children know they have their attention.
Colleen Sall is a mother of a teenage boy and girl. She is on the "Adventure of a Lifetime" as she charts new ground with two terrific children. Writing from her own personal experiences, she wishes to share this "less than perfect" parenting tips to other parents out there.
