You’re not perfect. And neither am I. Not a perfect person. Not a perfect parent. And thank goodness for that!
Define Your Parenting Goals and Make a Plan
So
where did all this come from? Recently, I spent 3 days at a retreat looking
inward. Basically, the wonderful retreat leader put me through the same steps I
put my parent clients through. Think about yourself: where you are right now
emotionally and physically; what fears, concerns and anxieties are getting in
your way; what are your goals as a parent (or in this case, individual and
business owner); what are your goals for your child (or business); what do you
know about your child (the people that you work with); and with all of that
information, let’s make a plan to empower you to have a happier family, a more
fulfilling experience as a parent, and address current challenges. In my
situation, that translated to maintaining a happy life, being a passionate,
focused, dynamic professional, and offering a variety of outstanding
services to meet the needs of the families and children with whom I work.
There Is No Perfect Way, Only Your Way
As
I continued to delve into my answers to these questions, considering my past and
my future, it hit me: I’m not perfect. I recognize that what I’m sharing is
pretty personal, but the truth of the matter is that this is a conversation I
have with parents all the time. This desire to be a perfect parent plagues so
many already-terrific parents. In my youth, I thought I should be perfect. And
in my mind, perfect looked one way. Perfect was taking this job, or being able
to talk about this specific accomplishment, or meeting a particular goal. Well,
I learned that those things don’t always happen. That personal success isn’t
about the “how it should look” definitions, it’s about what works for
me, in my life. I truly believe that this is where my pinnacle message for
parents came from. It’s not about what the experts say is the
“right” way to parent or the “how it’s supposed to be”
messages parents are bombarded with all the time. It’s about YOUR family,
YOUR child, and YOUR parenting goals.
Be The Best Parent You Can Be
Clarity about the questions I mentioned earlier doesn’t always come easily. And when you’re not sure how to put it all together, a professional can be a terrific support. During sessions, I help parents think about their answers to these questions and whether or not their answers are in line with their actions. When they’re not, we create an action plan for making positive changes, empowering parents and creating happier families and more successful children. At the end of the day, it’s not about being a “perfect” parent; it’s about being the best parent you can be and having a plan that works for you.