The kids have been giving us a hard time at home lately, besides being in “that phase” (Parents, choose your phase, they all have a few things in common!), they have been ill as well.

In my search for “parenting advice”, I’ve been reflecting on a few lessons from the book How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen, which I read earlier this year. Let me share my insights with you.

1. Don’t outsource it all (even when it’s hard)

It is true that it takes a village to raise a child. But one needs to be mindful of how much you allow the village to shape your child. As important as it is to expose our children to school, teachers, friends, activities etc, it’s equally important that we also take the time to help our children learn from us. Remember that when they are ready to learn they will learn from whoever is providing the example at that time!

In business you wouldn’t outsource a core part of your value chain. Don’t do it at home either!

2. Offer experiences (even when it’s hard)

Yes, it might be easier to do a task for them, or to moderate to the point of guaranteed success. But life doesn’t work like that. Children are little humans in the making, and one needs to remember that a lot of things we take for granted had to be mastered by us a long time ago. Whilst being mindful of your child’s ability, create stretch experiences for them, even if you must watch them struggle a little.

In our careers, we take time to ensure we equip ourselves with the right experiences and exposure, even if it means we must struggle a bit. We should afford our children the same!

3. Stick to your family values & culture (even when it’s hard) 

Adults don’t become law-abiding, ethical and trustworthy individuals (or the opposite) by accident. The values and culture you are exposed to when growing up has a profound impact. You are responsible for vesting what you believe are the ideal values and culture for your children, so make sure you do. 

In business we actively craft and drive a specific culture for our organisations. Do the same at home!

Thanks for your time,

Francis

PS: Flipping one’s lid when dealing with kids is easy, read one of my previous articles for some ideas around dealing with this!