Did you know that self-esteem and self-confidence are NOT the same even though most people use the words interchangeably? OK, let’s put it to the test. Right now, ask yourself the question – “What is the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence?” and then answer it.
We all know that every parents wants their child to have healthy self-esteem. No parent says I’d like a child with low self-esteem. BUT, when we confuse self-esteem and self-confidence in our parenting we can inadvertently hurt our child’s self-esteem.
Take this short quiz:
Does your child’s self-esteem come from outside – other people’s appraisal?
Does your child rely on others for praise to feel worthy or validated?
Does your child feel bad about themselves or even worthless when as a parent you criticise or reprimand them?
Do you sometimes say things that might harm your child’s self-esteem?
The more you learn about effective parenting, the more confident you’ll be with the practical tools you need to help you raise your children in a calmer and more effective way. If you feel like all you do is yell and fight with the kids which makes things even more out of control, then imagine how good you’ll feel when you’re able to respond rather than react and teach your kids the life skills they need for life success.