Nobody said parenting was easy. As a dad, you will often find yourself at odds with your children in regards to misbehavior, poor school work, staying out late, being a smart mouth or any number of ways children screw up or rebel against your authority. In these turbulent situations, things can often go from bad to worse depending on how you and your children speak and act. Here are some things to consider when handling tough family circumstances without making your kids resent you.
Nixing "bad" friends
While you may like the majority of your children's friends, chances are that there are one or two bad eggs in the mix that you may not approve of. Having said that, forcing your son or daughter to refrain from hanging out with beloved buddies may not be the best course of action and may only work to reinforce his or her rebel status. Unless there's a real risk to your children's well-being by associating with this friend, you may want to accept that kids will hang out with whomever they want to. Stifling this freedom might only make matters worse.
Labeling
As a dad, you see firsthand how your children grow and develop throughout the course of their lives – from a shy preteen to an outgoing college student. While you might have developed an opinion of your child's overall personality and skills – smart, sassy, quiet or troublesome – avoid labeling your children. After all, you don't want your child's behavior to dominate your view of their personality.
Comparing siblings
When children act out or perform poorly, your natural reaction might be to point toward another sibling as an example of your preferred expectations. However, this comparison can often do more harm than good. No child wants to hear that a brother or sister is "better" than them at something – especially not from a parent. Instead, try to brainstorm other ways to encourage your children to work harder and behave better while not looking like a dad who plays favorites.