Parenting…but for real
Parenting is hard, parenting is fun, but mostly parenting seems to be a world full of Learning in the moment. I’m discovering we can make it through the chaos and find what works.
Yep, That’s me.
I’m a 41 year old, co-parenting mom of three, with a Psychology degree, social work background, Signs of Safety facilitator training and 10 years of parenting under my belt. Including wrangling my three VERY different children.
My 3 kids are amazing. They are fun and curious and – downright exhausting. Their distinct personalities have pushed me to the brink of breakdown just in trying to get through daily life, let alone focus on having them thrive!
I’ve spent a lot of time searching out supports, engaging in-home facilitators, attending appointments, reading, learning, completing parenting courses and implementing new ways of ‘being’ in the way I show up for myself – that ultimately impact my parenting style.
I’m dealing with sensory challenges, physical anger outbursts, abstract-thinking, kindness, a little one who has more self-empowerment than I do, and a sibling dynamic that could take down the strongest of souls. I don’t know all the answers, but what I do know is some of my biggest parenting wins came through ‘aha’ moments for myself.
My parenting experience so far has led me to believe that great discussion and a toolkit of personalized strategies can ease navigating the ebbs and flows of parenting.
There is no way for sure to know how any one parenting journey is going to go. Parenting awareness, plans (including sometimes not having one!), and your people can make all the difference.
If you’re a parent, wondering what’s next, if you can keep going, or just want to learn more than join me on this crazy ride!
So why reflect on parenting at all?
I’m a mom who doesn’t always love parenting, and somehow remains 100% committed to raising grounded, kind, functional adults.
Managing the basics of parenting can be wild enough; let alone working our way to thriving with our kids. There can be the day-to-day needs, social-emotional needs, overwhelm, excitement, grief and the list goes on - all happening on any given day. And somehow, with no training or licensing in parenting expertise or parenting advice, we are supposed to figure it all out!
Because PARENTING IS WILD. Because KIDS ARE WILD. And we are only HUMAN.
My hope is growing humans meet their child development milestones and get a chance at living their life with a balanced view on experiences, emotions and the reality of growing up human.
My belief is that the parenting process is more about furthering our own self-awareness, and less about the task-based process we often associate with raising our littles. We need positive discipline techniques, positive reinforcement and ways to deal with parenting stress.
Using that to guide me, I’m attempting to see parenting as a process of “raising adults” rather than parenting them only as kids. Visualize them growing into their future. One day they are going to need all the developmental checkpoints (some I didn’t get!), to function out there in the world.
Don’t get me wrong, I think we absolutely have to meet our kids’ day-to-day needs; feed them, clothe them, take them to school/activities.
- And -
I wonder about all the other needs my kids have too. I’m on a journey to create an environment of self-love, emotional connection, critical-thinking and accountability. Furthering my self-awareness full-circle into being able and ready to implement strategies that provide my kids with the opportunity to do the same.
How do we do it?
What if the way through is just normalizing our journey as humans?
What if we could find strategies that lean into our strengths and fit for our kids?
What if we allowed ourselves time to practice these strategies and could create a good experience… most of the time.
Imagine we stopped judging ourselves, and stayed committed to the long term goals instead?!
What can we do together?
1-on-1 Strategic Parent Support
We all need support sometimes, knowing where we are at and what comes next. We can work together to make short or longer term plans and effective parenting strategies to manage the day-to-day with your family.
Pre-parenting Prep
Thinking about raising humans? Want to chat about the joys and realities? We can work together to come up with dialogue topics to use with partners, friends and family. Create safety plans for potential hard moments. And get ready to be present with all the Joy ahead!
Debrief Hard Moments
Kids have hard moments. And parents do too. Parenting Challenges can highlight stuff we may still be working through ourselves. I’m not a therapist, but I do know what it’s like to struggle as a parent and need a safe space to share my feelings. Sometimes we need that first before we know what the next steps are.
Parenting Resources
We all need support sometimes, knowing where we are at and what comes next. Parenting resources, books, referrals. Let’s normalize this wild ride!
Let’s figure it out.
Interested in exploring? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly! Can't wait to hear from you!
