Being a parent is a great honor but it is also an extremely tough job for most parents. Why is that? Parenting requires knowing self and your children and both of those parts are tough. Parenting is about both you and your children.
Many times we land in a parenting role and for some parents this is more about loving the IDEA of being a parent. There is no instruction manual that comes with each child. That would be AWESOME if we had that manual! Our role as a parent is to support and guide our children into a happy and healthy future. Divorce can cut you off at the knees and the future suddenly feels uncertain.
As we start this new year really think about what you love about parenting. Are there areas that bring you so much joy and love? What makes you smile as you think of your children? Now other side of the coin, what don’t you love?
Look at these two lists then figure out how much energy you give to each area. Many people in divorce end up giving most of their energy into the hard parts – they don’t love the other parent or even talking to him or her. You don’t love the parenting schedules. You don’t love the past events that lead you to here.
For this new year, let this negative list go. Learn to love your children SO much more than you hate the other parent. As soon as you find yourself shifting that energy in the right direction you will have a new outlook on parenting and you will feel the love deepen for your children.
Stuck in the mud
