The Top 10 Things You are Doing Right as a Parent
Warning...there's no quick 10-point list here that allows you to tick off the boxes and move on. That would be way too easy and require absolutely no thinking on your part. Where is the fun in that?
I thought of providing you with a list of 10 things that I'm pretty sure you ARE doing right as a parent, but it wouldn't be as rich and meaningful as you could make it. Never in a million years could I come close to the mark of all that YOU are to your children. More on that in a bit.
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Head-spinning Parenting Advice
When it comes to parenting, there is no shortage on advice about how you should do it. Just a quick amazon search will yield options of books recently released in the tens of thousands. My colleague, Dr. Lynne Kenney and I shared our own research on best practices based on neuroscience a few years back in BLOOM. The information in that book continues to hold true...and sales of that book continues to this day! {And Dr. Kenney and I love hearing how that book is changing your parenting game!} Still, the amount of parenting advice is head-spinning.
When it comes to parenting, there is no shortage on advice about how you should do it. Just a quick amazon search will yield options of books recently released in the tens of thousands.
In my opinion, some of the best books on parenting don't admonish you for doing things "wrong" or show you just how to do things "right", but rather encourage you to do things in your own loving way, armed with the support and knowledge of what helps a child develop optimally.
No Single Best Approach
The truth is, there is no single best way to parent. And there's no such thing as a perfect parent. Here at Kidlutions, we've always encouraged you to aim for being perfectly REAL. Faults, foibles and all. Who better to teach a human child the best way to be human?
Here at Kidlutions, we've always encouraged you to aim for being perfectly REAL. Faults, foibles and all. Who better to teach a human child the best way to be human?
We are role models to our children...when things go right...and ultimately, even when they go wrong. That's because, even more than learning how to do things right, kids need to learn how to recover, recoup and regroup when things don't go as planned. That's pretty reassuring, isn't it?
We are role models to our children...when things go right...and ultimately, even when they go wrong.
So, in the spirit of forging ahead as the expert on your own children (who knows them better than you?) and the expert on what your family needs most...I present you with a printable to jot down your own 10 things you are doing right as a parent.
Your Printable
Here's your printable where you can jot down the Top 10 Things You are Doing Right as a Parent. This is an exercise meant to make you intentionally think about what you do well...and I bet you can find ten things straight away, probably many, many more! Nobody knows what you do as a parent more than you do!
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| Download your printable HERE or by clicking the image above! |
You may use it in any way you see fit. Here are a few thoughts on some creative ways to use it:
1. Print and fill it out for yourself.
2. Print one for you and for your spouse, partner, co-parent and fill one out for each other!
3. Ask your child(ren) to fill one out for you! You're bound to get some really helpful insights from this approach!
4. If you're kids are too young to write, but old enough to express an opinion, ask them to tell you what they appreciate/like best about you as a parent, and write it down for them. An alternative to this is to give them a blank piece of paper and ask them to draw a picture of what they like best about you as a parent.
If you are brave, ask them what they wish you would do more of, what they'd like you to stop doing and what they wish you would start doing.
Want a tune-up on what you do well in other areas of your life...as a wife, husband, colleague, supervisor, administrator, teacher or other? Simply insert that role in your life for "parent" in the printable and fill it out accordingly!
Taking stock of all of our relationships is a great idea...don't you think?
Here's to putting your best foot forward in parenting...and in all of your relationships!
Wendy Young, LMSW, BCD, is the founder of Kidlutions and co-author of BLOOM: 50 Things to Say, Think and Do with Anxious, Angry and Over-the-Top Kids. She is the creator of the online parenting program The Joyful Parent numerous workbooks and resources to help from the preschool through the teen years. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! She'd love to see your smiling face there! To get all of our FREEBIE downloads from the past (and future) by joining our free mailing list. Go HERE to join! Affiliate links may be used in this post. Please see our full disclaimer, located at the top of our page for more information.
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