How to Stay Kind and Courageous for Our Kids
The COVID-19 pandemic and its government-mandated lockdowns has affected people of all ages across the globe. People have struggled, and are still struggling, with their mental health, others have lost their jobs, businesses have closed, and many are dealing with financial difficulties. But while we are dealing with all these challenges constantly coming our way, we cannot forget the toll the pandemic is taking on our kids and grandchildren.
We cannot forget that our kids are also feeling exhausted and sad by this pandemic because they can’t go to school, see their friends, go to their karate lessons or ballet lessons. For many, their parents have had to work from home while trying to school the kids, so frustration levels are at an all-time high. That’s why it’s important to be a good leader at home, as a parent, because children learn from their parents about kindness, respect, courage, leadership and more. It’s important to make sure you are kind and courageous so that your kids can follow your example.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that one in three Australians between the ages of 18 and 34 admitted to experiencing high levels of psychological distress in June of this year.
Professor of youth mental health at the University of Melbourne, Patrick McGorry has used the phrase ‘Shadow Pandemic’ to describe the impact of the mental health crisis and raised the question: How to manage the psychological and emotional toll of the coronavirus, especially on the young and vulnerable.
Professor McGorry has stated it’s a major threat to our mental health,”
“Losing our sense of security, having to confront the fear of the virus, losing a lot of other things in our lives like the ability to exercise, mix with other people, to have a social role, have professional role or a work role, these are really big challenges we are all facing.”
Read more about the Shadow Pandemic here.
It can sometimes be easy to lose sight of what’s important, especially when you’re in the middle of a pandemic dealing with everything the best you can. But we need to make sure our kids are alright as well.
Here are some ways on How to Stay Kind and Courageous for Our Kids.
- Model leadership behaviour to children – As parents, we know only too well that children learn from seeing what other people and their parents do. By showing kindness, empathy, courage, and respect to not only your child, but the people around you, this will go a long way to helping your kids on the right path to becoming a great leader one day.
- Communication – Sometimes we hide things like financial issues and other things from our children as we don’t want to worry them. But kids are very good at picking up on moods and emotions, that’s why we have to communicate with them and let them know what is happening. A leader must have the ability to communicate effectively in a wide variety of situations, whether with employees, friends, family or coworkers.
- Confidence – We as adults often struggle with self-esteem and the ability to be confidence. Even leaders have moments where they feel less than confident. Teaching your children to have confidence in themselves and their abilities will assist in providing a positive outlook for your child. This will go a long way to helping your kids with their confidence.
- Kindness and Empathy – It’s paramount that we teach our kids how to be kind and empathetic, especially in a world that is currently dealing with the pandemic crisis. We need to teach our kids these traits because they will be able to keep these traits alive in the future, so that even 50 years from now people will be kind and empathetic to others.
How are you staying kind and courageous for your kids? Let me know below.
By Sonia McDonald
Founder and Managing Director of Leadership HQ and McDonald Inc. Leadership coach, entrepreneur, CEO and author.
Sonia McDonald is changing the face of leadership across the globe. She believes we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, and is known for her mantra ‘Just Lead’. She leads by example in all these areas and through her transformational coaching, leadership training programs and cultural transformation for organisations and encourages others to do the same. Sonia has helped thousands of people on their leadership journey to become the best version of themselves and in turn, inspire and bring out the best in others.
Sonia is a founder and CEO of McDonald Inc., LeadershipHQ and Global Outstanding Leadership Awards and the newly launched Courage Conference. For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of leadership and she is beyond committed to her mission around building a world of great leaders.
She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader. She has been recognised by Richtopia as One of the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Australian Entrepreneurs.
Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is a leading coach, an award-winning published author of newly released First Comes Courage, Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! and has become an in-demand keynote speaker on leadership, kindness and courage.
Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, kindness, empathy and courage as well as building outstanding leadership across the Globe.