How to talk to your kid about not being perfect

Twelve years into this whole parenting thing, with my daughter barreling full tilt into her teen years, my wife and I have gotten a little bit lazy on certain aspects of the parenting game. Specifically, we’ve started to slack off when it comes to defending our personal reputations as paragons of parenting perfection in our daughter’s eyes. Early on in your child’s development, you may find yourself fully and wholeheartedly committed to being the ultimate role model for every aspect of their lives. But as time goes on, it just gets tiring trying to cover up the mistakes of your past, and honestly, you might find it’s healthier for your kid’s emotional and social development to understand that every once in a while, everybody does stupid things. Case in point, over the holidays, my daughter Sarah and I were driving past a construction zone on the Mass Turnpike. The following conversation ensued: Sarah: “What do you think would happen if you hit one of those construction barrels?” Me: “Yeah, that would be pretty bad. They’re filled with sand, so they’re really heavy.” Sarah: “You’re making that up. How do you know that?” Me: “I stole one and brought it home once.” See? Right there. I didn’t even hesitate. The words just popped out before I realized what I was telling her — effectively that, at some point in my life I stopped my car in the middle of the Mass Pike and tossed a construction barrel in my backseat. Just for kicks. I’m sure tha...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Parenting Source Type: news