As parents we all want what is best for our children. There, fortunately, are many things we can do to ensure that our children have a better life. Here are some ideas to implement.
As a parent, your whole life is your kids. Once you have a child the shift of your life’s mission is forever changed. Taking care of your kids is a broad statement that applies to about 1000 different things. Some of the ways you can invest in your children’s quality of life are obvious while others less so. Here are a few examples of things that you can do for your kids that extend beyond their everyday needs.
Teach Them How to Protect Themselves
You may consider yourself your child’s biggest protector, and likely you are however you need to teach them the skills to protect themselves so that as they face life’s challenges, they have the tools to make smart choices in your absence. Physically this can look like teaching them about their own bodies, and what is and is not appropriate in terms of other people. Toddlers that are potty trained and attend school need to be taught that while it is appropriate for a teacher to help them in the bathroom, it is not appropriate for other students to do so.
At an older age, things like sleepovers, parties, and even the internet, can all pose threats to kids. In today’s highly technical world teaching kids internet responsibility is essential. Do everything you can to monitor their activity and set boundaries in place to protect predators from being able to reach them through laptops, cell phones, or gaming devices. Open conversation with your kids about these things will also help build trust between you and them. Setting the tone that they can talk to you about anything helps to mitigate any fears they might develop should they find themselves in a tricky situation.
Create Financial Safety Nets
Having kids is not cheap so as a parent saving additional money can be tough. However, doing things like setting up an emergency fund and investing in life insurance are two smart ways to ensure that they will be cared for should a financial emergency pop up. Life insurance is initially set up to provide for the beneficiaries once the policy holder passes away, however in some cases you can sell your existing policy to use the cash for the times you need it most. You can review a guide that explains everything you need to know about selling your life insurance policy to be sure that you are not making any moves that have penalties. Doing so typically takes a few months so this is not going to be a remedy for an emergency however for things like purchasing a car, or paying for a portion of college, this can be a worthy option.
Take Care of Yourself
Being a parent is one of the most selfless things you can do so it is understandable that sometimes this role can take away from the time and attention you give yourself. But it is important to note that you need to be your best self in order to be the best parent. When your kids are young this might mean making it a priority to create better sleep habits so that you are not running on fumes 24/7. As your kids grow up efforts like making exercise a priority, nurturing your career, and finding hobbies for yourself are all great ways to invest in your children by showing them that self-love and personal goals are important. This dentist who does oral surgery in Marlborough MA also highly recommends getting regular doctor visits to ensure that you're always on top of your physical health.