I began this blog as an ode to yoga and wellness, which are topics I will always include here, but I have decided to return to my roots in psychology and venture into a new world in blogging: Parenting. Parenting is hard work. Period. It is the most work you will do for the least money (that's zero, by the way) and you will hold this job for the rest of your life. There will be a lot of people who can help you along the way and provide some guidance, but there is no perfect way to raise your children. There is no road map. You get to figure this out on your own, or if you are lucky, with a partner (who is as lost as you are).
As a behavior analyst, I am the first to say that my child does not have perfect behavior. She never will and that is okay with me. My job is to guide her, teach her, and keep her safe. She gets to make choices and learn from them. I get to let her do that. This does not mean my daughter runs the show. There are many parenting styles and I believe that is a right and a choice of the parent to determine how to raise your children. I am not advocating for one type over another. I will say, I believe healthy boundaries are important. You are the parent for a reason. Your child depends on you to teach them what is acceptable and what is not. When boundaries are clear, children get to feel safe to explore and grow within those boundaries. Boundaries and rules will constantly be changing as your children grow, and they should. If you are rigid and unwilling to reevaluate your rules, you will fuel a fire and create a world of unnecessary strife in your relationship with your children. Do I have it all figured out? Absolutely not. What I do know is that my education and experience with children has given me a level confidence in most difficult parenting situations I would not have had otherwise. I would love to share my journey with you in this blog and hope you enjoy reading along the way. The reason there are no answers are because your child is a unique individual with intricacies all their own. You are also unique and your experiences together will be different than anyone else's because of this. All you can control is your attitude. You can accept these intricacies, or fight them. You can focus on the difficulties, or the victories. I recommend viewing the world from your child's eyes, it's a beautiful view.
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