Responsible Parenting: Why You Should Not Confide in Your Child
As a parent, I can honestly I have been tempted to confide in one of my kids, usually my daughter. Thankfully, I have always stopped myself before doing it and reminded myself that they are kids and I need to call a friend if I need someone to talk to or confide in. It may not seem like such a bad idea to confide in your child, but depending what you are confiding, the results may not be what you expected.
Parenting doesn’t come with a rulebook. Most of what we know comes from the trial and errors of other brave souls as well as our own with each new child. One aspect of the parent-child relationship that is shown not to be effective is the “friend-confidante” role.
“What Did You Say?”
Ever heard of TMI? In kid-speak that means “too much information.” It occurs when we, as parents, share information with our kids that are best kept to ourselves. Think about it. How uncomfortable would you feel if your boss called you to his/her office and began spouting off the difficulties in the marital relationship? The first reason why confiding in your child is not wise is their standing in relation to us. Just like the boss in the previous example, a child is, for lack of a better word, a subordinate in the parent-child relationship. Certain conversations are meant only for those who hold the same position. Discuss matters of the heart with another adult of the same age, or even better still, with your partner.
Never Let ‘em See You Sweat
Many a coach has uttered these words to his/her team before a game or when the chips were down. As a parent, raising kids won’t be easy. You’ll get fed up, exhausted, angry, sad and every emotional state in between. But, your kids don’t have to know that. Find ways to cope through the support of other parents who have experienced the same thing. The second reason not to confide in a child is that they see a side of you that they can’t handle. Parents are seen as strong pillars by their kids. Telling your child that your boss is horrible, your feet are always tired and you want to scream, puts chinks in that “pillar” status. They begin to see you as fragile and delicate. In an effort to keep mom or dad happy, the child begins to take on the responsibility of propping you up emotionally. That is not their job.
Checkmate
Only say what needs to be said. Answer the questions that are asked. Many lawyers have recited these two lines to their clients. Don’t give the other side ammunition that they can use against you later. It makes sense. How many of us have had friends break a confidence when they were angry with us? The third reason not to confide in your child is because you run the risk of your child using the information against you later on. Children, especially teens, are emotional creatures who are still trying to get a handle on all the changes that are going on in their lives. Manipulation is not uncommon. And, telling them all your secrets is one way they can gain the upper hand when they want permission to do something. Most of parenting is trial and error but there are a few hard-learned tips that can help. One of them is not to treat your child as a confidante.
If you are interested in reading some of my other parenting articles, you may want to check out Teen Parenting Tip: Find Your Life! and What Do You Do With Stinky Teenagers?
Have you ever been tempted to confide in your child?
Were you able to stop yourself? I would love if you shared your stories in the comments below!
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