Perhaps the defining characteristic of parenting is challenge. Of course, it’s not the only characteristic. There is deep love, deep beauty, and deep appreciation around every corner here, and that’s what makes this process so worth it. We wouldn’t give up our children for the world. However, they’re not easy. This might sound insulting, but any parent would likely agree. Parental life is a difficult process, beset by challenge, but it’s those challenges and difficulties that help us become even more loving, even more appreciative, and grow even further as people.
However, sometimes, a parent may have to overcome heavier hurdles than the rest of us. To them, this can be a reflection of their own flaws, but that is certainly not the case, nor the truth. Overcoming the heavy hurdles of parenting can be a painful process, especially if your experience as a parent is textured by something defining, such as a child experiencing a developmental issue or encountering disability. This will texture your parental experience, but that doesn’t mean your relationship, or bond, or love for your child is any less.
With the following advice, we will help you understand that:
Asking For Help
Ask for help if you need it. Parents can often feel that unless they achieve everything themselves, that they are 100% present with their children each and every day, that unless they make zero mistakes, they are a failure. That’s simply not the case. In fact, this attitude can harm your self-confidence, harm your willingness to actually be present with your child, and it may even prevent you from getting the help that could truly help your son or daughter, such as helping them overcome a medical issue, getting the best autism treatment, or learning how to socialize or share with other children.
Developing Connections
While you shouldn’t feel forced into building social links with those around you, it’s important to recognize that developing connections with other parents can be a great way of sharing your struggles and both giving and receiving advice. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved, and so it can be worthwhile to have this support. For example, many single mother support groups have given powerful women the chance to band together and overcome the herculean task of raising children alone. Something relevant to you could truly help.
Learning From The Troubles
All parents undergo challenges and some worse than others. However, learning from the troubles can help you always plan ahead, and will give you more of a reasonable approach next time. This will be part of your parental journey no matter the age of your child. Even children in their late 20s may need to rely on your help or gain your advice from time to time, while it’s also important to consider and reflect on how to correctly stay an example, how to adequately praise and also give constructive criticism. You yourself will learn from them as much as they learn from you.
With this advice, we hope you can further overcome the heavy hurdles of parenting.