1.
Deep breaths all you dedicated parents.
Getting frustrated with your kids doesn't make you inadequate.
Forgetting a lunch doesn't make you inadequate.
Having little to no patience or being distracted at times each day doesn't make you inadequate.
It makes you imperfect.
Just like your kids.
The very very best of parents are not perfect or anywhere near that really...what makes a parent truly great is the ability to repair a conflict or disconnect and then model compassion to their kids AND to themselves.
When you mess up... apologize and reconnect...and work to do better...and please don't beat yourself up for being human...
Join your child in their delight and communicate to them that their instincts and preferences are valuable and valid - this is key in developing their self-esteem, and play is the perfect context for learning and bonding.
Struggling with your toddler's hitting behavior? This video offers practical tips and insights for parents, covering the underlying reasons for hitting, effective coping strategies, and considerations for each child's unique wiring and environment.
In this video, you'll learn that one of the most important skills we can give our children is the ability to apologize and repair in a relationship, primarily by watching what we model, with the two important elements being the absence of shame and the presence of true understanding of what the other person felt or experienced as a result of our actions or inactions.