Attention Parents: What About You?

I know that most parents worry about their children’s future economic security as a top priority. This is why 401kid has taken the pains to develop such a comprehensive education planning solution as ESP Wizard. However, at 401kid, we seek to engage parents, kids and communities in broader, more immediate issues, such as the quality of health, fitness and education that our children are experiencing right now. How can we continue planning effectively for the future while addressing today’s important needs, for ourselves as well as our kids? It is of no use being a martyr to your kids. Too many parents pride themselves on the noble idea that they are ‘putting the kids first’ at all costs. This could turn out to be a destructive attitude at the end of the day. Your kids need you as do you, to be healthy - physically, mentally and emotionally. What are you doing to ensure that?

Kids Learn By What You Do, Not What You Say.
Parents, uncles, big brothers and sisters, teachers and coaches - you are the role models that give kids a chance to mold themselves. Your every action counts. Think about the habits and emotional states that you picked up from your childhood, and you will recognize the power that your parents and childhood influences had upon you. Aside from my parents, I had a big brother who I idolized, and a very influential soccer coach, whose mentoring gave me a lot of discipline in the area of fitness and team work. That has stayed with me to this day. Do your kids have that type of positive influence outside of the household?

What Do You Do For You?
Ironically, one of the best things that you could possibly do for your kids is to do more for yourself. So many working mothers and fathers are crunched between work and home life, running the kids around, that they don’t make or reserve any time for themselves. Nothing can be more unhealthy in the long run. How can you change this as soon as possible? Here are some suggestions -
1. 15-minute workouts. If you don’t have time to get to the gym, then do something - whether it’s a run, some push-ups and sit-ups or yoga - for 15-minutes in the morning or evening every day.
2. Meditation and breathing exercises. Pick up a book or search the Internet for meditation and breathing practices, which you could do 2-3 times per day for as little as 5-minutes at a time. During this time, clear your mind as best as possible of all responsibilities and thoughts. You will be amazed at how rejuvenated you will feel, and as a result, how much more you will be able to give to your kids and others.
3. Plan some time off. This could entail long weekends if you can’t afford to get away for an extended trip. We all burn out at some point. Try not to wait too long between vacations or days off. When you do get time off, make sure that you do not spend it running around all day.
4. Something for you each week. When you sit down to plan your upcoming week, make sure that there is at least one activity or time slot where you - either by yourself, with your partner or some friends (i.e. without the kids) - do something that you chose, that you thoroughly enjoy. Whatever it is, make at least an hour for it. This is your time. Enjoy it.

It is very easy to start these kinds of things only to lose steam after a few weeks. Try making a checklist that goes on your fridge or desk, where you can refer to it daily. This might help keep you on track, and not to forget about yourself! Your kids will benefit more than anyone from your ’selfish’ behavior.

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