Stop and think for a moment.
Who are you as a parent? How would your children describe you? At the end of the day, in your moments of reflection, what parenting interactions are you proud of? What moments do you regret and want to “do over?” Who are you striving to become as a parent? What is it that you want your children to remember about you? What vision do you hold for yourself as a parent?
Asking these questions, and others, on a regular basis and following each of them with thoughtful reflection is incredibly valuable. By asking yourself these questions, you are defining your vision as a parent. In defining your vision as a parent, you have taken the first step toward becoming exactly the parent you want to be.
Often times, life gets in the way of who it is we want to be as parents, making it difficult to define and reach. Tight schedules, work, personal health, bills, upset children, exhausted spouses, and sleepless nights, to name a few, can all get in the way of who it is we really want to be as parents. The key is to remind yourself of four simple truths:
First, it is never too late to begin defining your vision. Second, when your actions don’t align with your vision, try again. Third, behavior change is most often a challenge, so be forgiving with yourself. Fourth, remind yourself why moving toward your vision is important to you and your family.
Should you decide to define your vision, I invite you to share your story with me via phone (614-332-9747) or Email. I’d love to hear how defining your vision as a parent has impacted your life and relationships with your children. Over the next few weeks, I will write about the steps that move you toward your vision as a parent.
Coaching Inquiries: What is getting in the way of work / life balance? What are you willing to change to achieve that balance? How would life be different if all your desires were balanced?
