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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Parenting summary
Andy & Sandra Stanley
Getting It Right
19 mins
Table of Contents
Parenting
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Aim to raise kids who want to be with you, even when they don’t have to be.
Let’s start by asking a simple question: At the end of the day, when all this is over and the kids have left the nest, what would you consider a parenting win?
Safe and healthy? Probably. Rich and successful? Always nice. Did they graduate college? Are they playing in the NFL? Dancing on Broadway? These are all great goals.
But they’re not enough.
It’s important early on to step back and take note of where you’re going. You don’t want to look back one day and realize that you’ve parented in the wrong direction. Or that the direction was decided for you – by circumstances, by culture, or by the impulses of your children and relatives.
As a parent, you should be leading with a clear purpose in mind. While there are many possible parenting goals, Andy and Sandra suggest that there’s one that stands above all the rest. One parenting goal that, if kept in mind, can have a great effect on the well-being of your children – and those around them. Including you.
And it’s this: you want to raise kids who like being with you and each other, even when they don’t have to be.
It’s all about parenting with the relationship in mind. If you focus on the relationship, it teaches your kids to be good at relationships, and this greatly improves their confidence and emotional well-being.
Think about it. Have you ever met someone whose problems come from a healthy relationship with their parents? It’s pretty unlikely.
But there’s one fundamental thing to keep in mind if you choose this method of relationship-focused parenting – the relationship that you have with your children isn’t the same as the relationship they have with you.
While this may seem obvious, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy dynamic. Your child is dependent. You are in charge. Both relationships are permanent but never forget that they’re two very different things.
In the next sections, you’ll find out how this relationship-focused parenting plays out during the different stages of your child's development.
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What is Parenting about?
Parenting (2023) presents essential parenting principles in a format that is easy to follow and implement. By drawing on practical knowledge and experience, the authors illustrate the goals and steps required to raise a happy and healthy kid – whether you’re dealing with the sleepless frustration of a newborn or the emotional rollercoaster of a moody teenager.
Who should read Parenting?
- Overwhelmed new parents who want a bit of direction in their chaotic lives
- Frustrated moms and dads looking for a fresh perspective on classic problems
- Expecting couples who want to have a solid foundation from the very start
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