7 Surprising Habits That Secretly Make You an Incredible Parent—Are You Doing Them Without Realizing It?
One thing I’ve tried is asking follow-up questions—like, “What happened next?”—rather than jumping to give advice.
This small shift helps my children feel validated and respected. If you’re doing this already, give yourself a silent gold star.
2. You create routines and boundaries
In our home, my wife and I have established a predictable bedtime routine—bath, pajamas, story, sleep.
Sure, there are nights when everything goes off the rails (like when my daughter decides she needs an elaborate pillow fort at 8 p.m.), but having a set rhythm helps everyone know what to expect.
