Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff- 3 Things Parents Shouldn’t Worry About So Much

Parents have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Every stage of a child’s life is filled with moments that have parents full of fear and anxiety, only because they want the best for their child. Kids don’t come with “how-to” manuals, so parents must learn the ropes with every step.

While a certain degree of worry is natural and helpful for being on the ball and making sure children are protected and well-cared for, worry overload is never a good way to live life, even when it comes to raising our kids.

To lessen the burden, it’s time to look at the big picture. Not everything needs to be perfect, and letting the small stuff go can be a huge relief for parents so they can concentrate on the more important aspects of parenting. We are not suggesting calling for a free-for-all, but a little less focus on certain things will put parenting into perspective. Here are 3 things parents could worry less about and surely things will still work out just fine.

 

Germs

Parents need to protect their kids and make sure they don’t get sick, but many of today’s parents are going overboard with germ-killing and other over-the-top sanitary measures. Like when we were growing up, it’s OK for kids to get down and dirty sometimes. Not everything they touch needs to be doused with hand sanitizer and if they accidentally eat something that fell on the floor, they don’t need to be rushed to the doctor. Kids are resilient and build up their immunities when they come in contact with these germs. As long as they don’t get into anything poisonous, they are sure to live through it and have fun doing so.

 

Grades

So what if your kid isn’t an A+ student? If they try their best, study hard, and actually learn something, they are doing A-OK. Of course, we want to be sure our kids are getting the most out of their education, and if they need extra help, we ought to do all we can to get that for them, but the goal should not be acing tests. Kids go to school to learn and develop skills and gain knowledge. If your child embraces learning and is eager to go to school, you’ve done your job well, as has the teacher. Years from now, will it really matter if they got an A- or a B+ on their spelling test?

 

Strict Rules

Parents need to enforce rules to keep their kids in check and form boundaries, but sticking to the rules without any wiggle room is no way to go through life. If bedtime is 8 PM and the kids were well-behaved and ask to stay up ‘till 8:30 to watch a TV program, where is the harm in that? If you insist the kids eat veggies with every meal and one time you let them indulge on French fries instead, they will still be healthy. If the kids know who’s boss and abide by your rules overall, allow yourself to loosen up when the situation calls for it. If the kids take advantage, you’ll have to tighten the reins, but if they appreciate and respect your authority, you’re good to go.

What do you think parents should lighten up about? What do you worry about the most as a parent?

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By: Melissa A. Kay