Am I a Good Parent?

Seven ideas I reflect on when I feel like a bad parent

Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash

Parenting is widely acknowledged as the most difficult job out there. After all, kids are ever-present and demanding. They are tiny, adorable lumps of dictatorial need. They are also masters of emotional manipulation, with their big, delightful eyes and veneer of innocence masking developing brains bent on control.

1. Show up. Kids just want you to be there. Go for a walk together, watch television with your child, and ask them to help you with dinner. I often lay with my children at bedtime for a few minutes. I’ve read some articles saying that parents should not lay with their kids at bedtime, but this is when I find my kids open up to talk to me. I still sit with them or lay with them now that they are teenagers. They still talk to me. It’s worked so far.

The respect of those you respect is worth more than the applause of the multitude. — Arnold Glasgow

2. Listen to people whose opinions you value. In this world we live in, where parents are judged constantly, we need to listen to the people that matter to us and ignore the rest of the noise.