How To Strengthen The Bond Between Parents And Children, In 6 Keys
Although we often forget it, love goes far beyond relationships. The emotional bond that unites fathers and mothers with their sons and daughters It is, normally, one of the strongest that exists. Fathers and mothers can make sacrifices for the well-being of their little ones (or not so little ones anymore).
However, the simple fact of having offspring and forming a new family does not guarantee that the emotional relationships that exist between the two generations of this family are always strong, or that they are stable and of quality. Problems between parents and children are more frequent than we imagine and it is important to keep in mind that this is due to poor relationship management: something that can be avoided.
Below we will see several guidelines on How to keep your parent-child relationship healthy and that, if they exist, old grudges and resentments remain in the past. No conflict has to last forever.
How to strengthen the relationship between parents and children
In the affectionate relationships established between fathers, mothers and children, a small change in attitude can cause anger and conflicts that seemed entrenched to begin to disappear at a surprising speed.
Even if what there is is not resentment but indifference , it is perfectly possible to reconnect with younger people by inviting them to engage in meaningful conversations and expressions of affection. Let’s see how.
Although we often forget it, a good part of relationships are established through physical contact: kisses, hugs, caresses… That is why it is good to promote them in parent-child relationships, as long as they are unplanned and arise spontaneously This advice consists not so much in “implanting” hugs, but in not repressing them.
2. Avoid interrogations
One of the techniques that fathers and mothers use to try to establish communication with their children is to ask a succession of questions, which are usually answered briefly or with monosyllables by the young people, until they get tired and react angrily. This is a tactic to avoid, as it is not usually effective in creating a fluid dialogue
Instead, it is much better to focus on meaningful dialogue. If it is difficult to get the son or daughter’s attention, it is better to assume that and not force them from the beginning to have to think about what they are going to say when asked questions (this usually overwhelms those who are not willing to get very involved in an interaction).
How to do it? Talking honestly about a topic that the young person may feel interested in giving an opinion on. For this it is good to remember that The form matters more than the content (You can do a monologue on practically any topic, for example).
In this case, what gives interest to what is said is the fact of expressing from the beginning that it is an honest, personal and intimate reflection on what is being talked about. Printing this layer of intimacy in the message will easily awaken empathy in who, after all, is our son or daughter.
Many times, the weakening of the ties that unite parents and children is caused by a bad schedule. All relationships depend on practice, not theory , and if time is not shared together, the fact of being “father of” and “son of” counts for little. It is necessary to make the schedule have a sufficient amount of time for family life.
4. Be interested in your world
Many fathers and mothers assume that it is impossible to understand anything that belongs to their children’s generation. This, in addition to being an error regarding family relationships, is totally false and is not supported anywhere. Why would an adult be incapable of being informed and even minimally understanding what they are? the interests and references of their children ? What there is, many times, are simple excuses for not having to face this task.
If our daughter is interested in mountaineering, for example, we do not necessarily have to be interested in it, but we should understand what aspects of this activity make it stimulating, and in what way. So it is much easier to understand their world and their priorities and, of course, empathize
So, the next time he talks about something that interests you, adopt active listening and consider actually learning.
5. Keep the Smartphone away
Smartphones and tablets are very useful devices in many ways, but in face-to-face relationships they are distractors that wreak havoc on the quality of the interaction. That is why every father or mother who wants to share quality time with their little ones should specifically ensure that these elements remain away when conversing and share pleasant moments together.
If you want to make the emotional bond with your son or daughter gain strength, demonstrate it by taking the first steps, even if sometimes your pride or obstinacy holds you back. Yes, it can go wrong, and yes, this gesture of approach may not be reciprocated but it is important to be clear that this step is essential and that, at the end of the day, we have nothing relevant at stake in it if we are rejected.
