A blind spot is more than your driver's-side window. It also can be something that is disturbing or worrisome to other people, but not to a specific individual.
It's quite common for parents to have blind spots about their own children's behaviors. Everyone else seems to notice a particular hurtful behavior, some even talk about it with other parents, yet the parent in question doesn't seem to be bothered. A mom might watch her son hit two children at a party, followed by the mom's "blind spot" reaction: "He gets so exuberant. He's a character."
All parents have a blind spot at some point in their lives. And the spot gets larger in late childhood and through the teen years. Just think about some things that your own parents didn't know about you during your youth.
Some parents have a self-imposed blind spot. It's called denial. Denial may help lower the parents' anxiety or uncomfortable feelings, but ignoring the issue only makes matters worse. Serious behavior problems seldom go away on their own.
Labels: parenting tips
Posted By: Aspen/CRC