Quote of the Week

Failure.  We do everything in our power to avoid it to no avail.  As parents, we are often our own worst critic.  We strive for perfection.  To be the best possible parent to our children as we can.  But alas, there is no perfection in parenting. 

We all know that there is no one-size, fits all handbook for raising children.  Each of us carries around our own personal baggage that makes our parenting experience just a little different than the next person.  Add to that the diversity in our children, their temperaments and their baggage and one could only surmise that to expect perfection is futile. 

How we look at our failures is all a matter of perspective.  While I personally do my best to avoid failure and making mistakes, I also realize that mistakes are powerful learning tools.  Many of us have encountered a situation in the workplace where we made one or more major mistakes (well, at least I have!).  While painful to acknowledge and embarrassing to deal with, the sting fades and we are left with an experience that will help us in the future to better navigate a similar situation in the future.

So, rather than beating yourself up next time you respond to a situation with your child in a way that you had not intended, brush yourself off and promise to do better next time.          

            "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." 
                                    
                                                                    - Confucius, c. 550-478 BC; Chinese Philosopher