Welcome back after the Easter break, chocolate eaten back on healthly eating and back to work. There's something comforting about being back in routine, although this isn't strickly true until next week when the children are back at school.
I am always reading and watching, hoping to learn new things, new ideas and new "tools" that I can use to guide and share with others.
What fascinates me most though, is the amount that I read and see about wanting to be the "happiest, perfect, wonderful, energetic and best parents in the world", and to have the "happiest, brightest and best behaved children ever". The media and ourselves create massive expectations that start from conception and continue through the birth, early years and beyond.
What has happened to the belief that all we have to be is "good enough", and how much pressure are we putting on ourselves, our children and our families to keep this up?
Next time you are feeling that good old guilt because you are not given your children undivided attention all the time, it may be worth sitting back and thinking about what skills you are actually giving your children instead and to take the pressure off yourselves by "just being good enough".
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I agree.
ReplyDeleteNot one of us is perfect, and the quest to be the perfect parent can be counter productive for all concerned.
I know theres a huge pressure but its no good over compensating kids with endless guided activities and trips to this or that activity centre, no matter what the adverts say.
Kids of all ages feed off unconditional love and uncomplicated time spent with parents.
Children are great at making their own fun, given the freedom to use their own imagination to develop ideas. They can do this just as easily in their own rooms as in the garden, lounge or playground while us parents stand back and let them grow.
So long our kids know we are there to give a hand when asked or a hug when a scraped shin or bashed elbow interrupts play, they can then get on with being children.