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Take Control of Your Parenting Part I

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Take Control of Your Parenting (Part I)

If You Are Doing These Things… STOP

Find Control As a Parent With Letting Go

Parenting is no walk in the park, is it? We’re constantly juggling so much—meals, practices, homework, appointments—and sometimes we can lose ourselves in the chaos.

But here’s something I’ve learned:* __Parenting is the art of empowering another human. And that starts with us clearing the chaos, right here, right now.*__

If you're feeling overwhelmed and thinking, “Am I even doing this right?”—it may be time to look at your habits as a parent and start making some changes. Parenting can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. With the right habits, you can take control of your parenting and your life again.

Ready to walk away from habits that aren’t working and light up the path to true fulfillment and joy in your family life?

Here are 2 things I’m telling you you’ve got to stop doing so that harmony and joy can flow into your home:

  1. Looking outside of yourself for validation, love, and acceptance as a parent.
  2. Giving your power away to things that don’t bring you joy.

So, I want you to ask yourself, are you truly aligning with your life’s purpose? Pursuing your dreams? Practicing positive habits and showing up for yourself every day? Because part of taking control of your parenting journey means focusing on positive daily habits for yourself.

Ditch External Validation – Embrace Your Inner Guide

The habit of seeking external validation for our parenting choices… I’ve got a secret for you: It’s a trap.

Every family is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. So why let someone else’s opinion steer your parenting journey? It’s like letting someone else drive your car while you’re still in the driver’s seat; it just doesn’t make sense.

When I became a parent, I asked myself, “How would I want to parent myself all over again?” And this question changed the game for me. I realized that to give my children the best of me, I had to trust my own instincts.

If you’re ready to start trusting yourself as a parent, I promise you, you’ll find parenting is less about perfection and more about connection. And here’s where to start:

What to Stop:

  1. Focusing on the idea of chasing after the perfect parenting image. Success isn’t about fitting into someone else’s idea of parenthood. It’s about reframing your idea of success.
  2. Falling into the expectation trap. Forget about the white picket fence fantasy, and start trusting your instincts. Because at the end of the day, your inner guide knows best.

What to Do Instead:

  1. Trust your gut. Build your confidence by aligning your parenting actions with your personal values and beliefs. It’s about asking yourself, “What feels right for my family?” rather than “What will others think?”
  2. Learn to love yourself. Learn to be a guide as a parent and show your kids you are there for them as they walk their path of life.
  3. Focus on your inner wisdom and lead your family with love. By embracing this approach, you’ll not only find joy in your parenting but also empower your children to one day trust their own inner voice.

Don’t Give Your Power Away – Reclaim Joy in Parenting

Are you handing over your inner peace on a silver platter? Taking on everything, saying yes to it all?

Remember: Your power is currency. So, when you give it away, you lose inner peace and connection with yourself. Outside forces will try to take away your happiness and your brilliance. And everyone will show up with their thoughts anyway, so why not work on protecting your inner harmony?

Because believe me, I’ve been there. I’ve worked those 20-hour days while juggling the needs of four young kids. *But you’ve got to make yourself a priority. *

So, what’s the game plan?

You’ve gotta set those boundaries, my friend. Make sure your family—your kids, your partner—knows that your happiness and brilliance are nonnegotiable. This means when they come at you with their requests or opinions, you can kindly remind them, “Hey, please honor and respect my boundaries.’ Because reclaiming joy in parenting starts with owning your power.

Ready to shift your focus from being everything to everyone to being everything to yourself and your family in the ways that truly matter?

What to Stop:

  1. Saying yes to every demand. If too many things drain your energy and diminish your inner peace, they’ve got to go. When you're always on the hook for every obligation, demand, and activity, it doesn’t just affect you—it impacts your ability to be present and effective as a parent.

What to Do Instead:

  1. Take a step back and assess. Think over each demand before committing to it or deciding to engage in it.
  2. Ask yourself some questions:
    • “Does this demand align with my values and priorities?”
    • “Will it bring me and my family joy?”
    • “Will it drain my energy?”
  3. __Is the answer no? __Then, it's perfectly okay to set boundaries and decline. (Remember, protecting your inner peace is essential for your well-being and your effectiveness as a parent.)

Journey to Parent Happiness

Each day presents a new opportunity to choose happiness and build the life you dream of for yourself and your family.

Taking control of how you want to parent and focusing on positive habits is the compass that guides you towards a happier life.

By letting go of the need for external validation and taking back your power from overwhelming your life with things that don’t align with you, you’re setting the stage for not only a happier you but also a more resilient and joyful family.

Embrace these changes, and watch as a new sense of fulfillment unfolds in your daily life. Choose to create happiness every day—it’s within your power, and it starts with a simple decision to prioritize what truly matters.

*PS - Stick around because you’ll find 3 more habits to change to gain control of your happiness as a parent soon 😉. *

And if you’re ready to learn even more, then dive deeper into these concepts in my self-paced Crack the Parenting Code online course. You can also discover the 8 Secrets to Being a Happy Parent in my free e-book.