Child Abuse Prevention: Verbal abuse

Being a parent is very challenging!  Children do not come with instruction booklets or how-to-guides.  When you are raising a child that has a disability such as ADHD, dyslexia, or Asperger’s it can be ever more challenging causing exhaustion, frustration, and feelings of being overwhelmed.  It is very easy for us to let these negative emotions escape at the wrong time and toward our children.   April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and a good time to reflect on your own parenting skills.  Are you a yeller?  Do you verbally attack when your expectations are not met (see March 13^th post for details on this Advice on expectations)  Do you use your tone and body language to intimidate and make sure others know you are upset and displeased with them?  Do you attack with your words to hurt or harm your children?  Do you try to shame them into behaving or degrade them when they do not follow your rules?  If you answer yes to any of these, you may need to read Pam Leo’s book “Connection Parenting: Parenting through Connection instead of Coercion, Through Love instead of Fear.”  Pam contends the most important thing a child needs is to have a strong emotional bond with at least one adult.  Parents need to understand that children will be more successful and compliant when they are emotionally healthy than when they are emotionally damaged.