Fifteen years ago, marks the start of one of THE greatest growth curves of my life. Becoming a mother. As a newbie parent, it was like being thrown in the deep end and having to learn to swim. Without an instructor! Step by step (sometimes hour by hour), day by day, year by year, we’ve grown and thrived. I’ve realised parenting is a continual journey of learning, refining and aligning (there is no one and done). Underpinning it all (the glue that keeps me motivated and forward focused), is the love I have for my kids. Back at the start, I didn’t know how it was all going to go. Nor did I expect to. I still don’t. And that’s totally normal and OK.
Reflecting on the past got me thinking about how most of us enter the parenting space without any relevant qualifications or training, yet we accept and believe we can do it. And, we DO just DO it! That’s life fuel right there! We can use the same attitude and confidence we’ve applied to parenting in other sectors of life, like embarking on a new career path, developing an interest or achieving a health goal. It takes similar courage, determination, commitment, self trust and step by step learning.
The cool thing is, life offers efficiency when it comes to learning. When we build skills in one sector (say parenting) they help in another. More life fuel! Never underestimate the value of all that you have gained from every experience of your life. It all counts towards your next step.
My learning from the past 15 years has given me so much. Here’s what I now know:
1). Love is the biggest motivator of all, so let that be your guide for all that you do.
2). Trust the process and back yourself.
3). Accept that change is constant.
4). Know that you are adaptable and can learn new skills at any time.
5). Ask for help and learn from those who have been through it before
6). Honour your unique needs.
7). Understand that hard doesn’t necessarily equate to wrong or bad, it’s simply where growth, adaption and change lies.
Love, Jan
Agent For Change