Five Parenting Mistakes Resulting From Guilt

Sometimes parents feel guilty about the hardships their children experience and then they overcompensate. This reminds me of what happens in the hospital with kids who are seriously ill or who have been sick for a long time. Sometimes parents spoil their kids. They say, "This child has been through so much, I just can't discipline him." And that parent starts giving and giving and overlooking and overlooking and the child becomes more and more demanding and unhappy. That's not productive and it contributes to unhappy, unhealthy kids.

We've identified several mistakes parents make when they experience guilt and then feel sorry for their kids. Watch out for these mistakes. They become pitfalls in the parenting path.

1. I let too many things go without correction.

2. I allow my children to be disrespectful.

3. I give in to too many of their requests.

4. I don't ask my kids to help around the house because I don't want to deal with the resistance.

5. I give more to my kids than my resources allow.

Parents rationalize, justify, and try to compensate to get over the guilt. Other times these problems exist just because the parent is tired from all the work of parenting and just doesn't want to deal with the resistance.

If you find yourself feeling guilty about things beyond your control or falling into one of these five pitfalls, take some time to evaluate what the real problem is. Look for ways to help your children develop godly character as they learn to adapt to life's present situation.

This parenting tip was taken from the Tape Series "Single Parenting" by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN, soon to be released on CD. Go to www.effectiveparenting.org