Before having children, future parents often imagine their offspring will be more cooperative and relatable than those they see around them. Children are, after all, made by combining pieces of each parents’ personality, physical traits, and mental aptitudes. How could you not get along with a miniature version of yourself?

The truth is that, while children may share certain traits and habits with their parents, they are their own people. Their decisions, motivations, and preferences can vary vastly from your own. This can contribute to friction in the parent-child relationship. This state of irritated disagreement occurs at all ages and for a variety of reasons. What causes friction between parents and children? How can parents correct the underlying causes of this dysfunction?

Root Causes of Friction

When friction strikes, it’s essential to find the root cause of the disagreement. This will enable you to formulate an effective plan to neutralize the bad feelings. These are common causes of friction in the parent-child relationship.

  • When your child isn’t getting the emotional validation and positive attention they crave, they may choose to act out. This cry for attention can come in the form of tantrums, uncooperative behavior, or even violent acts like hitting or punching.
  • Parents who are pulled in too many directions can have a hard time keeping up with all their demands. Friction happens when your need for rest or self-care is challenged by the needs of others in your care.
  • High parental expectations can set children up for a lifetime of success. Unrealistic or harsh expectations, on the other hand, have the opposite effect. According to a recent study, when parents set expectations, children are more prone to failure when confronted with unyielding standards. This can add to the buildup of friction between parents and children.

Once you decipher the reason behind the problems, what can you do to fix them?

Addressing Friction

Use these techniques to confront the issues that are causing friction in your home and bring calm to your parent-child relationship.

  • Check in with yourself. Have you been taking care of yourself? Reduce your own stress levels by engaging in activities you love, going to the gym, and eating a healthy diet. Take care of your own needs so you have the energy to help your child sort through their issues.
  • Listen to your child. Try to reserve judgment and maintain a calm demeanor when they say things you don’t agree with. Look at the situation from their perspective to gain an empathetic understanding of their frustration.
  • Make communication a family value. Regular family dinners and special one-on-one time with each child give parents opportunities to talk about issues before they become big problems. Periodic family meetings cut down on discord between family members by giving them a formal time and place to air grievances.

Family friction can threaten the happiness in your home. But with a little patience, empathy, and loving kindness towards yourself and your children, you can restore harmonious relationships.

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