Parenting Skills for Widow Mothers
The
mother’s meeting for this month was focused on understanding ”what is
parenting”. As the group comprises of widow mothers managing children from lifelong illnesses, in addition to being a nurturer, the women play an
important role of being the breadwinner too. This has affected most of the
women in spending quality time with their children.
The
parenting introductory session was to help the women understand the different
needs the children have and how parenting can help in the well-being of the
child. In the first session, the women were asked to identify the different a
child has; and in that the women could only relate to the physical and
educational needs. The social interaction and emotional needs have not been focused
and some even expressed that due to the their health status they have imposed the
children not to relate with others in the neighborhood due to the fear of
stigma or being discriminated.
Following
this, the mothers were taught the four types of parenting, the first one being
-authoritarian and strict, the second authoritative and firm, third one
permissive and fourth uninvolved or neglected care. These types were discussed
in detail with case examples and the women could personally reflect their own
parenting styles.
At the end
of the session the women were able to personally reflect the parenting style
that they were brought up and the parenting style that they are practicing now
with their children. Majority expressed that they belonged to the authoritarian
parenting style and have been practicing a mixed role of permissive and
authoritarian parenting style. Everybody in the group gained an understanding
of the authoritative and firm parenting style as the best form.