Dr. D,
My child misbehaves in public. It’s embarrassing! What should I do?
First and foremost, I encourage parents to NEVER parent out of embarrassment. What other people are thinking should not be the reason as to “how” you respond to your child’s choices. Remember, your child is the same, rather at home or out in public, he’s the same child…you need to be the same parent. I recently heard a soccer coach say, “practice makes permanent!” I love this because it is true, even in parenting. Whatever you practice at home is what you get to experience in public. So, if your directions at home are not the four C’s – clear, concise and consistent parenting that is able to correct– then your directions will not be the four C’s in public.
Parenting often feels more difficult in public because you think others are judging you. What’s more important? Your relationship with a stranger or your relationship with your child? Your child, of course. Always remember, if someone is attempting to judge you, they have either never parented or completely forgotten what it is like. Either way, don’t let what you think they are thinking prevent you from parenting your child effectively.
So practice clear, concise and consistent parenting that is able to correct at home. The more your child practices acceptable behavior, the more permanent that behavior becomes! What is an example of the four C’s? Tell your child something once, and be prepared that the second time you say it, you will have to show him/her what you mean. It might be necessary to follow through with a consequence if you have to tell or show him/her a third time. If you are clear, concise and consistent in your parenting, you will be able to correct most typical childhood behavior.
Published by Tamara Dickerson, M.D.
Welcome to my answer to a parenting housecall! I am a practicing pediatrician who has been asked on many occasions to come home with my families. I have been offered wallets (full of credit cards and checks-hehehe!) and even the invitation to, “please take my child for weekend”!
Here is my 21st century version of a house call. This will be as close as I will get to most of you in going home with you. My dream is to provide you some practical and humorous tips to make your parenting journey appear more successful and definitely more enjoyable.
Wisdom Moments is a resource that offers help in those moments when you feel like you are not leading the battle, let alone winning it. In those moments when you just need a little creativity but keep coming up with a blank. When those big ole’ eyes of your child are looking up at you , challenging – are you ready for this?! Instead of gulping and waving the white flag…drop by here for a little bit of parenting encouragement/reinforcement.
Despite the humor I use to share my message, I want to reassure you have heard each request and take them very seriously. What I bring to the table is not only my credentials as an accredited pediatrician, but just as validating is that I, too, am a fellow parent in the trenches with you! So what I have to offer you, I pray, is creative, effective and grounded in truth and reality. This blog will become my way, for now, to be more available to you and to share my parenting pearls. So…a toast to christen this maiden voyage “May we laugh and cry together…may we agree and disagree…may we always encourage each other that our children are worth climbing every mountain, scouring every valley, crossing any desert – to find a parenting pearl that will positively change a course of action for us and them”.
View all posts by Tamara Dickerson, M.D.
Dr. D. The Parent Trainer 