|
Tip For Parent Advocates: Know How Strongly You Identify With Your Children |
Written by Michael Cerreto
Sunday, 22 June 2008
|
Like other social groups in which parents belong, the family can be a place you receive fulfillment and support for being a member. Parents develop their social identities from being a part of a family, similar to identifying with groups in religion, politics, sports and nationalities. To be an effective advocate for their children's talents and disabilities, parents need to understand how strongly they identify with their children's accomplishments and how it effects their advocacy. People integrate their personal identities with their social identities. Their self-esteem can also be linked to the accomplishments of a larger group such as their family. This is part of a natural drive we have to bond as humans. It is an important reason why many parents have strong personal connections to their children's accomplishments and experiences. Problems can occur when parents do not know when their personal identities end and their children's identities begin. They cannot separate their children's successes and failures from their own. This is similar to sports fans who feel bad for days after their team loses a playoff game. While the fans did not play directly in the game, their social identity with the team is so strong that they take the loss personally. When supporting your children, you need to be aware of how you identify with the outcomes of their performance and personal qualities. The more you personally identify with outcomes, the more you will want to control situations for them. Ultimately, you need to determine what is appropriate parental involvement with your children based on their needs, not your own. This will help you become the most effective advocate possible for your children. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
Receive a special bonus when you subscribe to a free biweekly newsletter that provides tips for parents to nurture children's talents: http://www.atalentedmind.com/files/Subscriptions.html
Read a special blog about parenting children talents and share your own opinions and ideas: http://atalentedmind.typepad.com
Learn how Michael Cerreto, Applied Performance Counselor, and A Talented Mind, Inc. can help you or someone you know: http://www.atalentedmind.com
Receive a special bonus when you subscribe to a free biweekly newsletter that provides tips for parents to nurture children's talents: http://www.atalentedmind.com/files/Subscriptions.html
Read a special blog about parenting children talents and share your own opinions and ideas: http://atalentedmind.typepad.com
Learn how Michael Cerreto, Applied Performance Counselor, and A Talented Mind, Inc. can help you or someone you know: http://www.atalentedmind.com
You are welcome to publish this article free of charge on your website, newsletter, or e-zine, provided:
- You don't change the article in any way
- You include the entire article, including the "about the author" box
- All hyperlinks must remain intact, including email addresses, and the link to ArticleBlast.com at the bottom
- In doing so you agree to indemnify the article's author, and ArticleBlast.com and its directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities which arise out of its use
- It is also recommended that you provide a courtesy copy of your publication to the author of the article
