Parenting, Protests and COVID

They say being a parent or carer is the hardest job you will love. It is absolutely the most important and challenging leadership role. I have an 18 year old daughter who is truly anxious today. I don’t blame her. When I was 18, just starting university and working part time at Sizzler, I felt I knew everything (I now know I knew nothing) and was about to take on the world without a worry in the world. I had a dial up phone at the time and no internet. 

She feels the opposite. She has access to the whole world on her phone/laptop. She is studying university at home which she dislikes, she can’t find a job, she is worried about me, she is overwhelmed about the challenges of COVID, she is talking to me about racism and the protesting. She is so worried about the state of leadership. She is only 18. She wants to protest on Saturday and show her courage and commitment to change. I will be there to support her too. That's leadership.

What the youth of today and future generations of tomorrow are dealing with and are seeing is beyond my comprehension. I wanted to share some of my insights to help anyone leading and parenting our youth of today.

I don't have all the answers and I am not the perfect parent nor leadership.

How are you navigating this time as a parent or carer?

Here are some tips to help you navigate as a leader and parent (I am no expert too) and believe me I am also not perfect.

1. Be aware of what you know and how you feel about everything going on.
2. Be truly open and honest with them about it.
3. If you notice ANY changes of behaviour, don’t ignore it. 
4. If they are scared and anxious, let them know that what they are feeling is truly okay.
5. Let them know you don’t have all the answers too.
6. Teach them that everyone is different and we must treat everyone with respect 
7. What we are seeing around the world is also an opportunity for growth and change 
8. If you find they won’t open up - change the focus. I find going for a drive, baking or playing a board game together is a great way to discuss what’s going on
9. Help them by understanding what’s worrying them most and come up with solutions 
10. Give them purpose and see how you can all support a charity or cause during this time 
11. Teach them to journal and reflect. My daughter found it was a great way to express how she was feeling.
12. Show them lots of love and compassion. Listen, don’t fix.
13. Be approachable. Make them feel safe to talk to you without judgement. 
14. You won’t stop how they access the world however we can teach them the right platforms to educate their young minds.
15. Teach them about kindness for themselves and others 
16. Show them the importance of telling you how they feel and having the courageous conversations 
17. Work with them on the importance of values. 
18. Support and embrace their views and beliefs even though they might not be yours.
19. Teach them about how to feel and be safe during this time.
20. Tell them that they and we will be stronger because of what’s happening and they will learn a lot about themselves. 

Stay Courageous. Stay Kind. x

About Sonia McDonald

Sonia McDonald is the CEO and founder of LeadershipHQ and McDonald Inc. Sonia is an in demand keynote speaker, leadership coach and advisor, author and facilitator.

Sonia works one on one with CEO’s of Multi-National organisations and advisory boards to start up enterprise, facilitating in-office workshops with emerging leaders and supporting companies through cultural transformation and positive wide behavioural change.

For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of Human Resources, Leadership and People and Culture. She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is recognised as a LinkedIn influencer and has become an in-demand keynote speaker, starts important conversations. Sonia has also been recognised in the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Entrepreneurs across Australia by Richtopia.

She is an award-winning published author of Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! With her third book close to completion, Sonia understands the importance of distilling inspiration and cold hard facts into a few digestible pages. Entertaining and irreverent, you will find a methodology that takes you courageously to the next step of your career or journey

Keynote Speaker

Sonia has been a keynote speaker for over a decade and has delivered presentations to a thousands of people all over the world. Renowned for her candid rhetoric, personable insights and fierce business acumen, her presentations and books have transformed how people worldwide conduct themselves as leaders. Book Sonia HERE.

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