I used to be the kind of parent who hovered. I watched my child closely, almost too closely. I reminded them to put on their jacket even when it was 70 degrees outside. I packed their backpack every night. I…
When I became a parent, I thought I had it all figured out. I read parenting books, listened to podcasts, and followed parenting blogs. I thought that if I loved my child enough, everything else would fall into place. But…
I can’t draw. I can’t sing. I don’t know the difference between oil paint and acrylic. And for a long time, I thought that meant I couldn’t raise a creative child. I thought creativity was only for artists, dancers, and…
I didn’t know it at the time, but the first time my child made me laugh so hard I snorted water through my nose, something changed in our family. We were closer. The mood was lighter. We all felt safe.…
I used to think nature was just a nice place to visit on weekends. You know, for picnics. Or maybe a walk when the weather is good. But once I became a parent, everything changed. I began to notice something…
What I Didn’t Know Until I Looked Closer I used to think my kid had nothing to hide. I trusted them. They were polite, got good grades, and said “yes, ma’am” when I asked them to do their chores. They…
I used to think my teen was just being difficult. One day we were laughing about a funny movie. The next day, she slammed her bedroom door because I asked her about her homework. I was confused. I was hurt.…
I never knew how much I would learn just by watching my child try to put on socks. At first, she cried. Then she tried again. Then she threw the sock across the room. Then she picked it up. Then…
I am a parent. Just like you, I want what’s best for my kids. I want them to grow up strong. I want them to be kind. I want them to be happy. Every day, I try to make the…
When I was a kid, I hated chores. I mean really, really hated them. My mom would say, “Clean your room,” and I’d groan so loud you’d think the world was ending. Washing dishes felt like torture. Folding clothes? No,…