Take Time To Reflect

Adapting to parenthood is a gradual process . Most of the time, you might love being a parent  but there are also instances when you feel trapped and long for the days when you had no responsibilities. These feelings are normal. In fact, you should acknowledge and celebrate them, because it shows that you are learning to take care of the needs of your child whilst also taking care of yourself. This is the essence of good enough parenting. Good parenting acknowledges that the parent-child relationship consist of two flawed people with unique needs and wants. Acknowledging and making space for each other’s needs are a catalyst for growth in both parent and child.

There are a couple of ways that you can reflect on your parenting journey:

• Keep a journal – Writing can help you express and formulate your feelings and thoughts in a way that might not be possible if you tried to express it verbally. It also provides a permanent record of what you experienced. For those who don’t like the physical act of writing,  writing online through blogs can be a good alternative.
• Make a scrapbook – It can be very therapeutic to put a scrapbook together of your parenting journey. Take a look at the photos of you and your child from when she was a newborn and reflect on how far you’ve progressed as an individual.
• Take a walk – Often taking a walk in nature is a very good way to clear your head and meditate on where you are at in your life. Beautiful scenery and fresh air is food for the soul and will sustain you through moments filled with messy hands and grubby faces.
• Talk it over – Find a trusted like-minded parenting friend and talk about your fears and joys. Beware of perfect parents whose children always sleep through the night, never threw tantrums and stained their clothes. They’re not real – never bare your soul to them!
• Read about different cultural parenting practices – It can be very refreshing to learn parenting practices in other cultures. Seeing how others do it differently might highlight your own successes and failures for you in new ways and help you improve in your weak areas as a parent.                                                                                                                                 

Keep in mind that this taxing time of early toddlerhood won’t last forever. Before you know it, your toddler will be able to communicate verbally, understand dangerous situations better and leave the days of teething and poor sleeping behind. Tell yourself: This too will pass, It’s true!