On the emotional morning rollercoaster, don't forget to lock in compassion
Parenting is a rollercoaster of emotions filled with joy, love, and, let's face it, occasional moments of absolute chaos and failure. We all have those days where everything seems to go wrong, leaving us questioning our sanity and parenting...
Parenting is a rollercoaster of emotions filled with joy, love and, let's face it, occasional moments of absolute chaos and failure.
We all have those days where everything seems to go wrong, leaving us questioning our sanity and parenting abilities. From a place of no judgement, I share one (of many) of my parenting fails and the valuable lesson in compassion that I learnt.
You know those heartbreaking moments where you think, “Geez, I’ve really f**ked this up.” Well, I do. I remember a particular moment recently that lives in my head rent-free, popping up anytime I feel like "I’ve got this".
I'd had one of "those" mornings. When everything is a tantrum, everything is an issue and I'd lost my cool. Was quick to yell. I briskly walked my son to school, not talking because who knows what I’d say if I opened my mouth. My son was reluctant to go into the school gates. I asked him what was wrong and he answered, “I don’t feel like going to school because I feel bad.”
Wow – a stab in the heart with a knife twist. Heartbroken. I felt like the worst mother ever.
As the anger subsided, I realised the rough morning battle was merely a reflection of my child's internal struggles. Tiredness from starting Kindy, high emotions, big milestones, you name it. In the midst of my own frustration, I failed to recognise the signs of a child feeling unwell, emotionally unwell.
Instead of spiralling into self-doubt and self-loathing, it was time to gather my thoughts and learn a valuable lesson about the importance of compassion in parenting. It's not always about getting it right or avoiding mistakes; it's about being there for your child, even when things don't go according to plan. Parenting fails are inevitable, but it's how we handle them that truly matters. Right?
As parents, we are bound to face rough mornings, unexpected twists and moments that test our patience. Parenting fails are not signs of weakness or incompetence but opportunities for growth and connection. Well, at least that is what I keep telling myself.
