Parents are the most important people in a young child’s life. When they’re little, their whole world centers around you. As they grow older and especially once they enter their teenage years, respect for their parents becomes a little less obvious. Marilyn Dalrymple created Respect for Parent’s Day which we celebrate on August 1st. In her words, she did this in an effort to “make our families become united and strong by recognizing the leadership roles parents have, and to reinstate the respect for parents that was evident in the past.”
How can we teach our children to respect us?
- Children tend to follow by example. They watch how their parents behave and they copy that behaviour. If they see you treating someone badly or speaking to them rudely, they will do the same. Your tone of voice when you speak with them conveys a lot about the type of person you are, either respectful of others or disrespectful.
- Don’t allow your children to act in a disrespectful way toward you. Once children are aware that they can be rude to you or get away with things they shouldn’t, they will continue this behaviour. Put rules in place and ensure that they are followed. Many parents don’t follow up with a punishment that they have already warned their children about. Children quickly learn that there won’t be consequences for bad behaviour.
Respect for Parent’s Day is a good day to show your appreciation for your parents. For everything they did for you and for the times they stood by you or picked you up when you were down. As your parents age, show your respect in turn by helping them with the things they once helped you with. Give them your attention and your time.
