Parents will always protect their children. Having three kids meant divided time and attention. However, I make sure that I don't compromise their safety. But then there are days when we, parents, thought we've done our best to guard our children. When I recently encountered an 'unsafe entity' outside my house, I became disappointed with myself. I even asked myself, 'why wasn't I able to stop it?'. I got depressed and just kept on blaming myself. After that, life moves on and I didn't have any choice but to protect them even more. Here's what I do to ensure safety at home:
1. I don't sleep. Yes, I still watch my children sleep. Ever since I started having a child, I was deprived of sleep. I only have an average of 5 hours of sleep everyday. I seldom have naps, but when I do, it's just for 20 minutes. One will never know when trouble comes, so I choose to be awake.
2. I lock the doors and the gate. Strangers, sometimes, have their own creative ways of letting themselves in other people's houses. I make sure I lock the gate of my house all day. It prevents my kids from going out. I still allow them to run around outside, but not all the time.
3. I set rules. I always remind my kids of the rules that I always want them to remember. They should be inside the house at 5pm. They should inform me of anything suspicious. They should not talk or go with other children to other places. Yes, a lot of 'shoulds'. But despite that, I make sure I explain everything to them.
4. I trust my kids. Although I set a lot of rules at home, I sometimes allow my kids to do what they want, checking whether they apply my reminders or not. I want to give them a little independence and a sense of responsibility. I want to see if they will still do the right thing even if I'm not looking.
5. I talk to my kids. One of the most important things in a child-parent relationship is communication. Kids have a lot of questions in their minds, specially when there are rules and limitations to adhere to. One of the best thing a parent can do is to spare time explaining what might happen if their kids break the rules. Also, be honest to your kids, so that they would reciprocate. Do not sugar coat things to the point of missing out on reality. Remember, when your kids grow up, the lessons you taught them will make them ready to face the world.
