You can love your children and get frustrated with them

Researchers tell us there are six phases in parenting, and because we focus on school-going children we shall highlight the interpretive and the interdependent stages. These are levels five and six.

During level five children enter kindergarten, the first step towards school life. When entering this new phase of their lives they interact with different people that include new friends, teachers – and they develop interests in many different areas. These interests can be similar or dissimilar to your interests. The lack of similarity can lead to separation or connection between you and your children.  This depends on your attitude. During this stage, which lasts until the beginning of children’s teenage years, moral values and beliefs are also decided.

As your child transitions to doing more activities outside the house, be involved in those activities as much as you are able. Children change and develop rapidly during this stage so it’s wise to schedule your day so that you have time to bond with your child. Mom and dad must work together to manage conflict regarding how to intervene in their child’s decisions.

Level six, the interdependent stage, is from puberty until the child completes high-school and starts to become independent. During this stage, your role in your child’s life is questioned. Your child notices everything in the world and raises many queries. You must remember that you still play an important role in his/her development. Therefore, you should be there for him/her. Parents need to be available to offer guidance while letting their teens make decisions for themselves – and conversations about sexual behaviour can help your child manage choices responsibly.

Have you ever wondered why you child doesn’t listen to you – or, sometimes, speaks to you in a discourteous manner? Ask yourself how you see your child. The way you talk to him/her has a significant effect on how he/she thinks and acts.

The responsibilities of parenthood include:

• protecting your child from harm
• providing your child with food, clothing and a place to live
• financially supporting your child
• providing safety, supervision and control
• providing medical care
• providing an education.

And as your child grows up, you grow up with him/her.