Becoming a good role model among friends or a respected example at work is no easy task. It’s a significant responsibility that requires many qualities, tasks, and commitments to maintain. Now imagine a mother wanting to be a role model for her children—who often only think about playing, jumping, breaking rules, and avoiding responsibilities!
Naturally, this process goes beyond just giving orders or setting rules and then enforcing them. True role modeling, dear mother, begins from within yourself—from your correct behaviors and from living by values and ethics. Children learn and absorb these indirectly by watching every movement, listening to every word, and observing—rather than just hearing—every action and reaction you make.
In this report, Dr. Wissam Al-Arabi, Professor of Education and Child Psychology, shares several ways a mother can become a role model for her children. Together, we explore how your daily behaviors can serve as a model your children emulate, creating a lasting impact on their personalities and futures—both near and far.
Step 1: Be Honest in Your Actions and Words
Children can tell when your words don’t match your actions, which may cause them to lose trust in you and learn that inconsistency between words and deeds is normal. On the other hand, admitting your mistakes helps them understand that everyone makes errors—and, more importantly, how to handle those errors.
Dear mother, avoid small lies so that your children don’t learn that lying is acceptable in some cases.
Step 2: Treat Everyone with Love and Respect
Listen attentively when someone speaks, whether a child or an adult. This teaches your child the meaning and value of listening, which in turn strengthens their ability to engage in dialogue and respect different opinions.
With respect, children also understand the importance of personal boundaries—avoiding unnecessary interference in others’ affairs, and kindly respecting others’ needs and feelings.
Step 3: Be a Model of Hard Work and Dedication
Talk about your workday; share with your children some challenges you face at work and how you overcome them. This gives them an idea of the importance of patience and diligence in professional life.
Teach your children the importance of cooperation and teamwork by involving them in household chores or activities requiring collaboration—whether it’s a group game or a volunteer activity benefiting others.
Step 4: Instill Empathy and Cooperation in Their Hearts
One of the most important traits of a good role model is the ability to show empathy and cooperation with others. When children learn how to support others, they develop social skills that make them likable and able to build healthy relationships.
Be a good listener for your children, especially when they express their feelings, even simple ones. Give them time to listen and engage with what they feel. This teaches them the importance of listening and understanding others’ emotions.
Help them understand situations involving their friends or classmates by discussing how others might feel in those situations. This nurtures their ability to empathize.
Encourage volunteering by involving children in community service activities—small tasks like helping neighbors or larger ones such as participating in community events. This strengthens their sense of responsibility toward those around them.
Step 5: Be a Role Model in Managing Your Emotions
Life is full of challenges and difficult situations requiring emotional control and wise decision-making. When your children see you handle pressure calmly and rationally, without loud voices or anger, they learn a lot from you.
Do not lose your temper in front of them. Feeling angry or stressed is natural, but the key is how you express those feelings. Teach your children that anger can be expressed healthily, without shouting or inappropriate violent actions.
Take appropriate moments to share your feelings with your children. This helps them understand that emotions come in many forms—joy, anger, sadness, welcome—and that they are a natural part of life, each with its own proper way of expression and management.
Show your children how you solve problems: when facing a challenge, explain the steps you take to find a solution. This encourages logical and rational thinking in crisis situations.
Step 6: Take Care of Your Health and Yourself to Be a Strong Role Model
Regular exercise benefits not only the body but also the mind. Teach your children that physical activity is an essential part of a healthy life.
Try to show your children that healthy food can be delicious and nutritious. Involve them in preparing healthy meals to encourage a love for healthy eating.
Tell them that success doesn’t mean working continuously without rest. Take breaks and enjoy time with them, reinforcing the idea of balance between personal life and work.
Final Step: Know That Being a Good Role Model Is Not for a Moment or Days
It will not come to them overnight but is a continuous process that requires commitment and perseverance, repeated sincerely through your daily actions, words, and the values you instill in them.
Your mission, dear mother, is to create a lasting impact that stays with them throughout their lives. What you do for them today shapes their personalities and futures tomorrow. Be that honest, consistent, good example that your children proudly look up to.
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