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Parenthood can be extremely stressful, especially if you employed, and in this economy, chances are you are, which often leaves you with a lack of time you can spend with your kids. And children are so special and delicate, so it’s important to take your time and make sure they’re growing into responsible and well-balanced adults. Raising brilliant kids can often be more demanding, as brilliant kids require much attention, but with some tips, you too can raise a smart child without sacrificing your own free time:
1. Don’t rely on excuses
Excuses are often so convenient, they allow you to do or not do something without feeling guilty. Work is an excellent excuse, but when it comes to kids, using work as a way to be busy won’t do you or your child any favors. Instead, try to tweak your schedule so you’ll be able to spend time with your child, and don’t feel bad if you can’t do a full hour or more. It’s better to play or read with your kid for 30 minutes each day, then to let your kid be on a tablet for an hour, while you’re sitting by their side doing something else. Being connected to your child and spending time productively can be more impactful than being with your child just for the sake of doing it.
2. Modify your work obligations
Some parents are truly busy with their work, and some of them are also holding positions of power which often means more responsibilities and stress. It’s difficult to raise a kid if you’re also monitoring your employees, but if you find a way to balance between your career and your family, you too can be able to use your time more wisely. For example, if you decide to work from home in the evenings, that will also leave you with enough time to prepare dinner and read a bedtime story to your kid. Instead of feeling hopeless and trapped, you should find a way to do your job while also being able to be with your child.
3. Invest in your kid
Now, this doesn’t mean that you should treat your kid as your personal project that is going to pay off sometime in the future. Investing in your kid means incorporating some after-school activities so your kid can see the importance of learning outside the school. Sending your kid to a foreign language school or karate can make your child more self-reliant and intelligent. Additionally, traveling and learning together can be a great way to spend some time together in an interesting and fun way.
4. Focus on yourself, too
Just because you have a child to focus on, isn’t the reason to neglect your own self-growth. Using some of your free time to acquire new skills can help you land a better job, which will in return help you provide your kid with better opportunities. For instance, Australian parents tend to spend a lot of time at work, but that doesn’t mean they don’t invest in their personal education. It’s completely normal to see parents learning new things in the hope to reach different goals and provide a better life for their family. So, if you’re feeling like you might do good with some extra knowledge, you can consider enrolling in one of the business courses in Sydney, since having a few customer-oriented and administrative skills can be greatly beneficial for your life and career.
5. Patience is a virtue
When dealing with a smart and curious child, patience is a virtue indeed. Just remember all the times when your kid wanted to know something, and he/she wanted the answer immediately. “Dad, why do we have two eyes?”, or “How to say bucket in Mandarin?”. Kids are inherently inquisitive about the world so the best thing to do is to be patient and try to find the answers the best way you can. Luckily, we live in an age where every bit of info is literally below our fingertips, so next time your child wants to know an answer to a really obscure question, don’t hesitate to consult Google or YouTube. Being patient and considerate will show your kid that curiousness is a good thing, which will also prompt your child to grow into a person that is constantly hungry for new knowledge.
6. Be happy
Instead of feeling overburdened by your kid’s demands for your attention, use that as an opportunity to learn and grow with your child. Think of that as reliving a second childhood (with some boundaries, of course). Embrace new technology and use that as an opportunity to connect to your kid on a deep and personal level. Don’t forget to be happy, carefree and down for fun — that will show your kid that learning can be a fun family activity, which will lower the chances of you ever getting bored and exhausted.
Conclusion
Working and raising a child can be a difficult task, but being organized and well-prepared can help you a lot. The key is to find a balance between work and family life so you’ll always have time to do everything without ever feeling stressed.
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