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Q: |
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Between kids, laundry, cooking, school activities and going
to work every day, there doesn't seem to be any time for
family life. How can I balance working and a family? |
| A: |
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With so many families
today, balancing work and family is a constant challenge.
Here are some strategies to help you maintain some steadiness
within your life:
- Communicate your needs to
those around you, and don’t forget to ask for help
- Set priorities, look at realistic
expectations
- Let go of the excess baggage
- Plan your week with your
family, hold regular family meetings, let children take
responsibility
- Expect the unexpected, and
then plan. Prepare a plan B
- Use the calendar, and help
family members learn how to use it. Use different
coloured pens for each family member
- Take time for you, do something
you enjoy doing
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| A: |
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For generations we have been living in
an authoritarian society, which is based on superior/inferior
relationship between men and women, parents and children,
and teachers and students. Punishment and reward was
the accepted method of discipline, and power was used
to gain control over others. Every man, woman and
child knew what was expected of them, and parenting methods
had been established through years of tradition. Everyone
learned how to parent from watching his or her own
parents.
For the past few decades many changes have
taken place in our society. We have been moving from
an authoritarian society towards being a democratic society.
A democratic society is based on equality, cooperation,
mutual respect, order, limits and responsibility.
Men are losing power over women, parents are losing power
over their children, and teachers are losing power
over students. Women and children now claim their
share of equality. Equality means that people, despite all
their abilities and differences, have an equal right
to be treated with dignity and respect.
Children are very sensitive to their social
atmosphere. They sense their equality with adults
and will not tolerate adult authority. Freedom is a part
of democracy. But we cannot have freedom unless we
respect the freedom of others. For everyone to have
freedom, we must have order. Order bring with it limits
and responsibility. The traditional methods of parenting
that we learned as children, don't work any more.
Parents are at a loss for ideas on what to do with their
children. We need to learn new parenting methods.
Democratic parenting is based on
freedom, limits, order, responsibility and consequences
and thus becomes a positive method of parenting. The
Family Education Centre promotes the democratic style
of parenting in all of the programs that we offer. |
| A: |
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Giving children choices gives them an
opportunity to learn how to make decisions and to
think for themselves. When you involve children in making
decisions that affect them, they become more willing
to cooperate, especially if they play a role in deciding.
It is important that as parents we set limits first and
then give children choices within those limits. |
