Managing work-life balance as a parent comes with challenges. La La Anthony, producer, actress and author, understands the balancing act of parenting and being a working mother. Her busy schedule means proactively making time for her son, Kiyan. This week, she shares her top rules for parenting successfully.
RULE 1: SET PRIORITIES
“My schedule is hectic, and I’m often balancing several different projects at once, but my primary job title is ‘Mom,'” said Anthony.
Have a family dinner or dedicate a certain night of the week to bond over a fun activity together.
RULE 2: BUILD TRUST
“All good parent-child relationships are grounded in trust, and open communication is extremely important in building trust,” said Anthony. “Make sure your child knows that they can depend on and come to you with any issues, questions or concerns.”
Build trust by showing empathy and being vocal about your own mistakes. If you messed up at work, share that experience with them and talk through how you will fix the situation. When they see you’re not perfect, they feel more comfortable coming to you in times of need.
RULE 3: FOCUS ON HEALTHY HABITS
“To protect Kiyan, I make sure he washes his hands often, and we use the Lysol Healthy Habits toolkit as a resource to reinforce healthy behaviors at home and in the classroom,” she explained.
Visit lysol.com/healthy-classroom to learn more about the One Less Sick Day initiative. Some smart tips from the toolkit include:
• Get your flu shot.
• Help prevent the spread of germs.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
• Remind children to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
• Reinforce healthy habits at home.
RULE 4: BE PRESENT
“Be as present as possible, and show your children that you’re there for them,” said Anthony. “For me, that means something as simple as helping Kiyan with his homework and catching up with him after school to hear about what he learned and what’s going on in his social life.”
Make time for these real connections by turning off your phone and other distracting devices so you can focus on each other and make the time to bond.
RULE 5: BOOST CONFIDENCE
“Every kid should have the confidence to be whoever they want to be and do what they want to do, and it starts with parents. We need to be their biggest supporters and cheerleaders so that they feel empowered to achieve their goals in all aspects of life,” she said.
Boosting confidence might mean trying new activities that are of interest to your child. Watch them as they practice and play, and support them through the ups and downs.
Being a parent today is one of the most rewarding experiences, and these tips can help you be the best parent you can be.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.