If parents had three wishes, what would you wish for?

In raising our young family three things were required to help the child develop into a blossoming personality. Love, discipline and vision. That might not sound like much to you, so if you add some solid education, then we’re right on the button.

Parenting is like the longest college degree you can get and the pleasure is never ending. When you can hold your head up high and say that I did my homework and fed my kids to the best of my ability, then you deserve the applause.

In truth, however, some days there are more questions than answers when it comes to helping a child. There is no one size fits all for parenting, so we need to focus in the direction of what is ideal for our child at that time. Have you ever wished you had a genie that you can grant three wishes to?

Here’s how three of our clients’ queries would have been handled by a parenting genius:

Wish #1: Genius, my kids constantly do the opposite of what I tell them to do. Give me a piece of advice on where to focus on my next challenge.

The Genie says:

There are stages in a child’s life where disobeying can become an unnatural progression. This usually happens as children become teenagers, they want to push boundaries, they want more independence to make their own decisions, and they just want you to know that they are growing up.

At times like this, loving them doesn’t seem to be the number 1 thing on your mind. The first thing is usually “how can I punish this child?”

The funny thing is that these are the times when we as parents really need to step back and take a time out. We need to let go of any anger that may have built up so we can get back to loving them again. Let’s take some time to calm down if we are getting close to the point of losing control. It may not seem like it, but it’s a time to remind ourselves that just like us, children make mistakes too. The magic advice is that we help children learn from their mistakes. When we can turn a disappointment into a learning situation, you will be the best parent you can be.

Wish #2: Genius, what is the best way to help my children develop discipline? They’re good guys, but they can be a little lazy sometimes, so I’m not sure how I can implement a strategy.

The Genie says:

Discipline is not an act that is done from time to time, it is a habit that our children acquire. When they do something often, it will become something they’re good at, so we’d do well to get them to do the right thing often.

Sometimes as parents we can misunderstand our children and because we don’t see them performing with great natural ability, we consider them to be untalented. The thing is, most people are not very gifted. Those who do well in school, on the sports field, and at work are those who have made hard work a habit. When we look at the world of work, it’s rarely always the smartest guy or girl who comes out on top.

When you develop determination and discipline in your children, they will do better than their peers who may have more natural ability. Give your children the gift of discipline from a young age and they will carry it with them for life.

Wish #3: Genius, grant me this wish for a balanced and successful son.

The Genie says:

Many children are not aware of what they want to do with their lives. With so many stories of fame and fortune with little work involved, it’s easy to get distracted. Our job is to talk with our son about nurturing her talents to her fullest potential.

Your child may already have a vision of their future; he may not yet know how to bring it to life. Your job is to work with him and give him the will and confidence to make his dream come true.

Your child’s dream should be your dream and not yours. Just because he’s not quite sure what he wants doesn’t mean you should crash his party! How can you help focus their future? You will know that poor planning and indecision will not serve your child well, so he must work from the inside out. Give your child time and draw him out by asking him questions like:

What tasks really excite you?

What kinds of things give you pleasure?

What is the most rewarding thing you like to do?

The picture will begin to take shape over time and your child will grow into that well-rounded, successful young man reaching his potential. I believe in you and your son.

Do you have a wish that was not answered? Go to the comments section and leave a comment to share it or any other ideas you have. Maybe we can get the genie to grant a few more wishes.

Let’s all celebrate the success and passion of parents!