4.
You’re a... Strict Parent
When it comes to your children, it’s your way or the highway... You push them to perform bigger and brighter than their peers. You want the best, and anything less is unacceptable.While your high behavioral expectations come from a place of genuine love and concern — after all, you only want your children to achieve their full potential — sometimes they might come off a bit strong.You lay down your household laws with an iron fist — ifs, ands, and buts are banned. On top of that, whether through time-outs or revoking their privileges, you aren’t afraid to punish your kids.Communication tends to be a bit one-sided. It’s mostly you, as the parent, talking to your children. You might feel it isn't necessary to explain certain rules to them or ask their perspectives on family matters.Here’s the thing though, children raised by overly authoritarian parents often end up with low self-esteem and high rates of anxiety, so consider softening your approach for long term success!"Your kids require you most of all to love them for who they are, not to spend your whole time trying to correct them." — Bill AyersHow to make the most of your time as a strict parent...1. Teach your children tasksAt first, teaching your children how to complete household chores, might seem like a lot of work, but it’ll save you hours in the long run. On top of that, it’ll help build up their confidence and self-reliance. Sounds like a sweet deal, right?Start with small, easy to do tasks like getting dressed for school or making a tasty sandwich!2. Schedule in Self-CareOne of the kindest things you can do for your kids is regularly scheduling in self-care. Whether it’s a relaxing lavender-scented bath or a half an hour journaling, by giving yourself space to process and reflect, you’ll be able to show up 100%. If you don’t already, I’d recommend keeping track of your time with a planner, so you know just how much you have to spare for some much needed TLC!3. Set RoutinesMaking simple morning and evening routines for your children is another great time-saving hack. By teaching them what to do as soon as they roll out of bed, you spare yourself the trouble of getting them dressed, brushing their teeth, and packing their lunch for school.Try putting together a poster with their morning and evening routines spelled out step-by-step. Add a couple fun pictures for a bit of wow factor and hang it up in their rooms!Hold up — let me introduce myself!Hey there, I’m Catriona Carter 👋 I’m the mother of two beautiful little girls, eight-year-old Claire and six-year-old Cassie. When I’m not chasing them around our backyard, I’m changing lives as a certified parenting coach!Yep, you heard right — whether it’s sibling conflict or school troubles, I give parents the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy families. Think you could use a little extra support? Book a free 15 minute consultation with me today! Together, we’ve got this 🙌Looking for a few more resources? Fill up on these...1. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop with my workshop schedule. Plus you’ll find a backlog of need-to-know baby-raising hacks!2. Download my 60 Tiny Tips for Enlightened CoParenting. It’s designed to help you minimize conflict with an ex, save time and energy with coparenting hacks, and provide your children with the happy childhood you always intended for them to have. 🙌