Do You Have A Close Relationship With Your Child?

Do you have a relationship with your child? It might sound like a silly question to ask, but it’s one that every parent should ask themselves. Because a relationship with your child is more than just a biological and legal connection. It’s a deep bond built on trust, love, and respect.

Parents often assume that they have a relationship with their kids. But what exists instead is often a power struggle. Kids are always fighting for more independence, while parents are fighting hard to retain (or sometimes regain) parental control. Power struggles indicate a lack of a deep bond.

In order to feel close to and bond with someone, a child needs to have more than just a biological and legal relationship with them. They need to feel loved, accepted, and respected for who they are. They need to know that they can come to their parents with anything without fear of judgement or punishment.

Here are some examples of how to measure the strength of your relationship with your child:

• How does your child refer to you to others, such as their friends? Do they talk about you with pride and affection? Or do they avoid talking about you altogether?
• Is your child willing to talk and listen to you? Do they come to you with their problems and joys? Or do they shut you out?
• Does your child want to spend time with you? Do they prefer to be with you over their friends? Or do they avoid you?
• Does your child trust you enough to share intimate things with you? Do they feel comfortable talking to you about their thoughts and feelings?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you have a good relationship with your child. But if you answered no to most of these questions, then it’s a sign that you need to work on building a stronger relationship. A positive relationship with your child can have a lasting impact on their development. Take the time to invest in your child’s future now. It will pay off in the long run.

If you’re not sure how to get started, there are many resources available to help you. There are books, websites, and even workshops that can teach you how to build a strong relationship with your child. Just remember that it’s worth the effort.

Food for Thought: On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being “not close at all” and 10 being “very close”), how would you rate your relationship with your child? What is one thing you can think of doing to make it a little better?