Every child needs a mature-minded person in their life. This is because the environment in which a child is raised plays a significant role in shaping who they become in the future.
For a child to grow and develop well, those responsible for their upbringing—their stakeholders—must be mentally prepared and intentional about their roles. Simply put, a fool cannot nurture a child into wisdom. Parenting follows the “garbage in, garbage out” principle: what you invest in a child mentally and emotionally is what you’re likely to receive in return.
So, what is the state of your mind? Are you mentally mature enough to take on the responsibilities of parenting? Have you considered the effect your mental state may be having on your child?
The reality is that some children grow up timid not merely due to personality traits but because of the fearful, unstable environments they were raised in. Others become adults who lack the confidence and capacity to make decisions because they were not nurtured in an atmosphere that promoted independence and critical thinking.
This is why mental health is crucial in parenting. As a parent, it is important to guard your thoughts, manage your stress, and model resilience by taking bold, healthy steps in life. Your mindset shapes your child’s mindset.
You might think it’s okay to shout at your children when they go wrong.
You might believe being overly authoritative is the best way to maintain control.
You may think your children have no say in decisions and, therefore, treat them as if their opinions don’t matter.
However, these approaches often reveal a deeper issue—an unhealthy mental state in the parent.
Parenting has, unfortunately, become one of the spaces where mental health challenges—such as stress, imbalance, depression, and emotional exhaustion—are most felt. But parenting is not a journey to walk alone. It is not wise to assume you can carry all the responsibilities of parenting by yourself.
Seek help.
Get professional coaching.
Read books on parenting.
Be intentional about taking care of your mental health as a parent.
Do these not just for yourself, but because your child(ren) need your emotional and mental maturity as a fundamental requirement for their development. Be that unleashed parent—mature in mind, balanced in thought, and healthy in life.
Connect with Tonnie Baffoe on +233 50 444 2332
Written by Elder Tonnie Baffoe (Schools Outreach Coordinator – Agona Swedru Area)
