Challenges Of Parenting And Striving For Being A Calm Parent

Challenges Of Parenting

There are so many challenges of parenting, ones you can foresee and then others that come right out of the blue.  I think I am a good mom, but I always question what I do and pray that my children will grow up to be strong, confident successful adults.  I worry that anything I do will leave “scars” on them as an adult.  Not that I do anything horrible with my kids, but I always want to handle everything that comes my way with grace.

This is how I would have loved to have spent my day today!

It is funny how things can be going along smoothly, then all of a sudden you hit a bump in the road and you start to question everything.  It could just be a developmental thing or could be an influence from someone else.  Then, I do not know about you, but I always wonder if the way that I am parenting is the most effective way.  Is the discipline that I invoke going to teach my children what behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable?

Being A Calm Parent

I do know that being a calm parent is my number one goal.  I love my mom to death but she is not a calm parent and can really be a very dominating one.  I know that I want to be a different parent to my children, but honestly it is a struggle.  I want to be a good role model for my kids I think it is very hard to change behaviors that you have, especially ones that you have been exposed to your whole life.  The fact that I deal with anxiety plus have 3 children with a husband who is never home due to work does not help.  I envy other moms who always seem so calm, cool and collect.  They never seem frazzled or affected by anything – this is what I strive to be.  Even if these women are screaming on the inside, at least they are holding it all together on the outside.

I hate how I feel after I have just not handled a situation the way I should by yelling at my kids.  Not only do I feel like I have just had my own temper tantrum, but that is not the way I want to present myself to my kids.  I also do not want them growing up thinking that is the proper way to handle stressful or chaotic moments.

It is a good thing I am always looking for ways to improve myself to be a better person and mom.  It is also good that I really like challenges!  I am actually in the process of reading 2 books on calm parenting that I will be reviewing.  I will share the reviews with you when I am done.

What do you find to be the biggest challenge with parenting?  Also, what do you strive for most in your style of parenting?