Do you ever feel like being a parent requires a psychology degree? My husband and I have three kids, no prerequisite course required. We dove in head first and have been on this incredible journey for 15 years! I am surrounded by families every day that are with us on this parenting journey! It is truly a wonderful experience, but it can also be tough!!

I remember the days of diapers, naps, sleepless nights, and preschool. I thought I would carry a bag of diapers forever, and for a long time I had a child attached to my hip. Crying used to be for basic needs: a diaper change, a toy broke, an empty bottle, more snack. When you are in this stage it can feel like an eternity! Then babies grow into preschool children who grow into school age children, to tweens, to teens, to an adult. I love getting to know my kids at each stage!! It’s never boring! My kids are 15, 13 and 10 – I have entered a newer type stage as a parent. So long diapers, hello serious topics and conversations! Hello emotions!!

As our little ones grow into preteens and teens the struggles become more real: a friend disappointment, sibling fights, rules broken, privileges revoked, losing a game, exhaustion, or just good old fashion frustration. These situations can be really difficult. Many times there are not tears, simply real raw feelings.

There is also great joy when one of my kids works through something or advocates for themselves! These are the times when they develop independence and perseverance!!

I am not perfect at struggling with life’s ups and downs!! I’m not sure who is? How do I support my children with compassion and understanding? Sometimes, I just want to say “get it together”, we have to go to school, practice, whatever. But, I want to be sensitive! So I am practicing. I am in there making mistakes and doing my best!! Being my authentic self as best I can, and that is how I will survive the parenting challenges.

In the book, Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown Chapter 7, “Wholehearted Parenting: Daring To Be The Adults We Want Our Children To Be” Starts with this:

“Who we are and how we engage with the world are much stronger predictors of how our children will do than what we know about parenting. In terms of teaching our children to dare greatly in the “never enough” culture, the question isn’t so much “Are you parenting the right way?” as it is: “Are you the adult that you want your child to grow up to be?””

Wow! Think about that for a bit.

After reading, Daring Greatly, I realize I will not always have the answers, but I will be there to support my children through the joy, happiness and struggles. Getting comfortable with the fact that when parenting I will make mistakes is good!! Giving myself permission to not know all the answers is great, who am I to think I would know it all? My husband and I definitely make our share of parenting mistakes. But, we also have all the parenting joys. Personally, I like this idea of showing my kids that I am learning too, I am only human.

So, maybe a psychology degree is not needed! Just me, being my best self - my imperfections, my strengths and all the in between.