| The modern day challenge of parenting, can be quite | | | | because if it is ignored, it will eventually catch up with |
| daunting especially for those who are ill-prepared and | | | | you. |
| struggling to face up to the realities of life. Good | | | | The art of successfully rearing children can be likened |
| parenting cannot solely be measured through certain | | | | to a wheel with many spokes, but all contributing to its |
| competencies i.e. the manner and extent of | | | | strength. To neglect or remove one or more spokes, |
| communication with your child. | | | | will result in a weaker wheel that will eventually |
| Great parenting also entails knowledge of other things | | | | collapse and fail. This could include as an example, the |
| like recognition of when your child is moving from | | | | inability of the parent to plan properly. |
| puberty to adolescence. The true test of parenting | | | | As a parent, you will do yourself a huge disfavour if |
| however lies in the sharing of good values that will | | | | you only focus on one or two areas whilst raising your |
| have a meaningful impact on the life of your child. | | | | children. Children are extremely sensitive to the manner |
| The reality of life is such that knowledge, | | | | in which parents relate to them and will often resort to |
| competencies and values can never be seen in | | | | delinquency if they do not receive the attention that |
| isolation. For successful parenting to take place, all | | | | they require. Your role as a parent must be that of |
| three of the aforementioned qualities need to be in | | | | role model, mentor and counsellor, but most importantly |
| place. There cannot be any short cuts or shortcomings | | | | is to become your child's best friend. |