Don’t Journey Alone! Find your Parenting Tribe.

I often hear comments from families about their fear and disappointment over what they could have done better.  What did I possibly do wrong?  Why isn’t my child talking?  He should be talking by now.  Why isn’t my child looking at me?  I call her name but nothing seems to work.  Parenting is the most difficult job in the world and we just don’t give ourselves enough credit.

We all make mistakes.  We all wish we could take back something that we said or did.  But most of the time, we are there for our children to support them, care for them, and provide for them the best that we know how.

I love the quote from Maya Angelou that goes something like:  “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

I think this pretty much describes parenting.  We all do the best that we know how until we learn strategies and techniques.  Then we can definitely do better.

 

As I look back on my own experiences, I remember worrying about things that I now think are so trivial.  In those moments though, it was stressful and it was the most difficult thing that I had ever had to deal with.  At that time, I found a group of parents with whom I could relate.  We all had young children and were looking for other parents with little ones.  We got together with our kids often to splash around in the pool, dye Easter eggs, go to the beach,  go to library time, and go to lunch. It was great spending time with other moms and it was comforting to learn that I wasn’t the only parent who felt overwhelmed and tired.  We all have different experiences and difficulties that we have to face and overcome but we don’t have to be on this parenting journey alone.

We all want a happy, healthy, and positive relationship with our children.  To do this, we need to be happy, healthy and positive ourselves, first.  By taking care of ourselves, we are also caring for our children.  Be kind to yourself, as you are kind to others.  If you need assistance with your child, please seek help by talking to your clergy, a friend, relative, teacher, or therapist.

Find a group to confide in.  Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, guardian, foster parent, or caregiver–you need your people.  People to confide in, to laugh with, for a shoulder to cry on, and to cheer you on.  One person is never expected to know all of the answers, or be able to fix everything, or be strong enough to do it all alone.

Superheroes exist in all of us because we all have our unique “super powers”.  Some of us are good listeners. Some of us take charge and lead groups to greatness. There are those of us who are quiet but have the ability to keep the peace.  Others make us laugh and help lighten the mood.

Pair up with a group of positive people and when you combine your abilities (superpowers), you will do great things.