Parenting is hard…period.
We all know this. We tell our friends too, yet when we are alone we are so hard on ourselves.
Let’s bring back self-compassion. Maybe you messed up these past few years and yelled more than you would like. Maybe you said something you regret today. Maybe you haven’t been yourself and neglected your mental health. Or perhaps you missed the signs of your child needing to feel seen.
There are plenty of reasons why we mess up or FEEL like we are messing up. But the problem isn’t making mistakes, it’s not learning from them. It’s not reevaluating how we are parenting and how we can improve.
Focus on these 3 tips. Be kind to yourself and remember that you matter. Reconnect with your child. Sometimes just doing this can change their behavior. Lastly, forget what other people say about how you parent. Our kid’s grandparents had their chance to parent before. They had chances to mess up too. Now it’s our turn to raise our kids our own way and mess up as well. Thank them for the advice and walk away. Focus on your family.
Cindy Hovington, Ph.D. is the founder of Curious Neuron and the host of the Curious Neuron Podcast. She is a mom of 3 from Montreal, Canada and has a doctorate degree in neuroscience (specializing in mental health and emotions). Her mission is to support parents in developing skills and habits that will allow them to proactively nurture their well-being. Parents can develop leadership and coaching skills and learn science-based well-being tips focused in psychology and neuroscience. Join the Reflective Parent to feel empowered and connected in your parenting journey!