Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash


We want to be the perfect parent for our kids. We don't want to screw them up.

We put a lot of effort into helping them succeed. 

We watch them grow up and it is rewarding, some of the time.

And some of the time it is hard.

Sometimes they do things that we don't want them to.

Sometimes we do things that they don't want us to.

What our kids don't always understand is that as parents, we are still learning how to grow up too. 

We don't have everything figured out yet. 

But we do everything we can do to help them succeed.

It is one of our greatest desires.

So why is parenting so hard sometimes?

Because it is supposed to be. It is how we keep growing and becoming better people.

It is true that even though we are supposed to know how to parent, we really don't sometimes.

And one of the best things we can do for our kids is to be willing to admit that to them.

It is a game changer. They stop accusing us, and we stop pretending we have all the answers. 

Because really we are just winging it!

As our kids get older, they may voice their opinions for parenting reform. They might be valid. We might want to listen.

I've learned a lot by listening to my kids. They are smart.

And I want them to be able to talk to me especially when I'm doing something that they feel like could be done better.

The reality is that we are all God's children, our kids and us as their parents.

We are still learning and growing too.

We can give ourselves a break when we mess it up.

And if we are willing to admit that we didn't do it perfectly, then our kids can know they don't have to get it perfect either.

The reason we are in families is so that we can help each other.

Are they helping you be better?

Are you able to be the person you want to be around your kids?

Whenever things aren't going perfectly (which is often), a good place to start is to ask yourself: "Who do I want to be here? and How do I want to show up?"

These are powerful questions that we can answer and follow through.

We won't always be able to do this, and that's okay. We are still learning too.

Give it a try this week and see how you feel.

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