I'm not an expert at parenting. It's the hardest job anyone could have.
But here are some tips I've learned from a bunch of people along the way:
You have to see your kid for who they are and not who you want them to be.
I've talked about this numerous times in the past, but in case you're new here, I'll share some of what I've learned over the years.
It's tough because as a parent; from the time your kids are born, you're micro-managing everything with them. You need to let them make as many decisions as possible, so they can start to develop, and to show you trust them, but for the most part, you do practically everything for them. For many years, that's the nature of parenting - and you can't imagine it's every going to be different.
I’ve learned that sometimes you have to love your kid a little less. Love can be blind sometimes. You may see your kids as an extension of yourself, and while this may be genetically true, it doesn't always mean they're passionate about the same things as you. It's important to realize that that's okay.
You can steer your kids in the right direction, but you can't push them. Sometimes we are so concerned about giving our children what we never had growing up, and we neglect to give them what we did have growing up.
You can open as many doors for your children as you want, but they will only walk through the doors they want to walk through. You should enjoy the things you have in common with your kids while respecting the things you don't have in common.
To me, there's no job more difficult than being a parent. It doesn't matter if they're newborns, in high school, or even grown adults.
I've learned so much from Dr. Shefali Tsabary, an acclaimed author, international speaker, and clinical psychologist. She has appeared many times on Oprah Winfrey's SuperSoul Sunday.
This video below is from a Ted Talk speech she gave in San Francisco.
"When you parent, it’s crucial you realize you aren’t raising a “mini me,” but a spirit throbbing with its own signature. For this reason, it’s important to separate who you are from who each of your children is. Children aren’t ours to possess or own in any way. When we know this in the depths of our soul, we tailor our raising of them to their needs, rather than molding them to fit our needs." - Shefali Tsabary
I've never met this woman, but she has some amazing perspectives. If you're wondering how to become a better parent, I feel like she could guide you towards that.
Her latest book; released in 2016, is called "The Awakened Family: How To Raise Empowered, Resilient, and Conscious Children". I highly recommend it.
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Quote of the Day: “It’s no surprise we fail to tune into our children’s essence. How can we listen to them, when so many of us barely listen to ourselves? How can we feel their spirit and hear the beat of their heart if we can’t do this in our own life?” - Shefali Tsabary
Song of the Day: "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" by John Lennon
