When parents master this one thing, they’ve mastered parenting

Parenting is definitely a tough gig, especially when you’re juggling a full-time job and what feels like a million other responsibilities. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily rush and overlook what really matters most. 

But here’s the thing: if you nail this part, everything else starts to fall into place a bit more easily.

That key part? It’s all about building a strong, supportive, and loving relationship with your kid. This isn’t just about being there physically; it’s about being there emotionally, too, listening, understanding, and being present. 

When you’ve got this solid, loving connection, all other parenting challenges become a whole lot smoother.

Struggling to get your kid interested in studying? Love is a huge motivator. Relationship is one of the three human psychological needs that can motivate. Research shows that when kids feel a strong bond with their parents, they start to care about the things they value.^​1​ So, if education matters to you, chances are, it’ll start to matter to them, too, if you have a great relationship with your kid.

Wanting your child to get better grades? Research shows that having a great parent-child relationship is associated with better academic achievement in high school and higher college enrollment.^​2​

Having a hard time getting your child to listen? It turns out when you’ve built a good, strong relationship, your kid is more likely to listen and less likely to get into arguments or power struggles. They respect you, and that makes a world of difference.

And about those chores – we all know kids aren’t fans of housework. But when your child genuinely cares about you and your family, they’re more inclined to pitch in. They contribute not because they love the chores but because they value the family and want to help.

At the heart of all this is your relationship with your child. Often, we parents get so wrapped up in making our kids do things a certain way that we forget about nurturing our relationship with them. Parenting isn’t about dictating every move but building a foundation of love and support. When you start there, everything else begins to align more effortlessly.

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