Randi Z is a mother to a 10 and a half year old boy who has been struggling with remembering certain tasks required by his teacher. Randi recently learned that her son’s homework hasn’t been accounted for over the past few weeks because he has been forgetting to get his homework signed off at home. Randi wonders what are the appropriate expectations around accountability and how best to handle them. She worries about what this means for her son’s future and where SHE slipped up in the equation. 

On today’s episode we dive into our perspective and strategies around raising a self-reliant kid. We discuss how it’s not your responsibility as a parent to remember your kid’s tasks but there are ways that you can help them help themselves. By joining forces as a team and tackling issues together, your kid not only feels supported but they get to practice the life long skill of problem solving. 

This week on The Parenting Mentor:

• Tips for validating and non-judgemental communication that reminds your child that you support them and you’re on their team. 
• Specific tools for helping your kid become more self-reliant and responsible. 
• Why punishment isn’t the answer and why you should focus on empathy and patience for the learning process.  
• Tips for supportive and productive communication with teachers regarding their concerns. 

“He’s only going to be in 5th grade. That’s the first message to keep reminding yourself. The second message is you’re going to help him throughout the year learn a life skill. And those take time. And they take a little effort. And they take trial and error. The more relaxed you go into this whole thing the better, for you and for him. It shouldn't be a conflict thing.” - Sue Groner

Meet the Parenting Mentor

If you want to reduce the everyday stress and anxiety that inevitably come with parenting and learn to be a happier and more relaxed parent, then this is the place for you.

Here, you can listen in on real sessions with parents who open up about the specific challenges they face with children from 2 to 22. Listen along and gain perspectives and strategies to help you parent with sanity and joy.

Visit theparentingmentor.com for notes on this show, more episodes, and all the ways to subscribe, and don’t forget to pick up my book, Parenting with Sanity and Joy: 101 Simple Strategies, which includes my Nine Golden Rules of Parenting.

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