Workplace bullying is on the rise. It could be in the form of physical bullying by a co-worker or sexual harassment by a supervisor or any number of other ways. It has been estimated that 1 in every 3 workers, regardless of age or gender, will be bullied in the workplace in some form.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Your actions speak so loudly that I can’t hear your words!” Unfortunately, negative behavior undermines anything positive that you do. You may have heard more than once about a boy who grew up in a home where the father was physically or emotionally abusive to the mother. Guess what? He probably grew up to do the same.
This is the flip side to not being your child’s BFF. While you should not try to be your child’s best friend, you do need to develop a strong relationship with them. I am not saying that you need to be parent of the year; I am saying that you must be your child’s parent. As her parent, you will have a sense of authority that a best friend will not and cannot have. There will be times that this sense of authority will be absolutely critical.
Children who have a healthy relationship with their parents are more likely to develop positive relationships with other people around them. They can establish secure bonds and friendships with peers. They are better at regulating their emotions when faced with stress and difficult situations.
