Parenting Labels Galore

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Unless you have been living under a rock lately, you have noticed it is raining parenting labels! The tsunami of parenting labels tossed out there is enough to make my head spin.

Seriously, I didn’t have enough space in this image to cover them all, so feel free to add a few more to the comments (or don’t).

Is this judgment or awareness? At what point is all this dissection of the way everyone parents hysteria vs. helpful? Is it really that shocking that we all parent differently?

I invite you to consider a “judgment-free” attitude to how others parent. We are all just trying to do our best – after all, parenting doesn’t come with a manual and each child/family is different. Can we all just be a little less “judgy” and embrace each other? Can we just recognize that most parents are freaking exhausted, exasperated, and working their butts off to raise decent, balanced, global citizens? Ok, had to add the global bit. Whatever your parenting style is, I celebrate you!

Granted, the latest news regarding the college admissions scandal doesn’t quite support my non-judgment narrative but hear me out. I must also draw the line somewhere and make it clear that It is our job as parents to provide a safe environment for our children so I am not condoning any parenting style that puts a child in harm’s way (in any way).

Still with me? Good. We attach far too many labels to parents and parenting. We are parents, period. Not stay-at-home parents, working parents, part-time parents, helicopter, backpack, free-range, concierge, positive, tiger, or even as the latest label says, lawn mower parents. It’s called parenting. Let’s get clear about what our job is and do away with the judgment.

At the end of the day, parenting is about our children, not us. We are NOT here to live their lives for them, or live our unlived dreams through theirs. It is THEIR life after all. Let’s not confuse loving our children with parenting our children. We can do both but one does not compensate for the other. We all know the things one can do in the name of love. We can love our children all we want but let’s not forget to parent them (in our unique chosen ways).

What does parenting them mean exactly? Aaah, I won’t tell you how to parent, but I’ll gladly tell you a little something about kids that is universal.

They are resilient,
They want to learn, which means they can learn, fail, and succeed on their own.
They are curious,
And want us to quench their thirst for knowledge and adventure.
They are not our bumper stickers,
And are not here to make us look good.
They are whole and love who they are,
And want us to love them for who they are.
They have their own dreams,
So live yours!

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