With the rise of the gentle/peaceful/conscious/responsive parenting approaches, it can easily feel like:
Calm parent = good parent
Frustrated parent = bad parent
It doesn’t matter if your three-year-old just called you stupid and threw a yogurt cup at the wall - you handle it like a serene goddess, never raising your voice, never dishing out punishments, always appearing warm and loving.
But here’s what I know:
Parents are human
Parenting is incredibly hard
…I’d like my child to sleep through the night
…We need a better morning routine
…I want more quality time with my kids
…I need to night wean
…We have to figure these meltdowns out!
…Tomorrow I WILL keep my cool
…<insert your unfulfilled parenting to-do here!>
Often it seems like that bright shiny future is dangling just out of our reach. If only we could muster up the energy and know-how and make it happen!
Read MoreThis Fall called my bluff.
Like a lot of Moms, a big reason for choosing self-employment was the flexibility and the opportunity to spend more time with my kids day to day. It certainly wasn’t for the generous salary and benefits package.
The Fall held promise, my 5 year old was starting in person SK and we were looking for part time childcare for my 3 year old. I was salivating at the prospect of so much time alone in my home and all the projects, courses, content and new clients filling my schedule.
But then…
Read More“I’m not enjoying this.”
I’ve listened to parents share variations of these feelings and I’ve nodded along in understanding, because I’ve felt like that as well. And I ached, to offer something that might be helpful beyond solidarity. Because while parenting is hard, I believe we need those moments of connection and joy.
I also believe it’s not that easy. You start the day with the best of intentions, I won’t yell, I’ll play, we will have fun! But then your toddler yells at you for cutting his pancake, you spend 15 minutes in a diaper change standoff, your preschooler tries to kick you when you turn off the tv - and just like that, your frustration boils over onto everyone around you. And it just keeps happening.
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