Parenting is HARD WORK! Perspective, insight, humility and inner strength are essential for making it less hard. What is “The Blank Slate”? My belief is that kids are blank slates, born to you with very little on the slate. Everything that you do, say, think or how you act and interact will eventually fill in space on the slate. Some of this is “etched in stone,” some of it less permanent. This has been my parenting mantra since the very first moment I held my 16 year old son in my arms. Keeping this in mind for the past 16 years has allowed me to maintain perspective and in many cases restraint as a parent.
I am your average middle aged parent of two now teenage boys. As my boys grow, I become more aware of the influence I have had on both boys, and the results are sometimes strikingly different. I am writing this to offer my advice, support and probably a different perspective on parenting. Some posts will be humorous, some will be difficult, but hopefully most will be thought provoking. The goal is to get new and not-so-new parents thinking and talking as parents and as a family.
As a family, we have been through a lot in our time together. As parents, we have made many “good decisions”, definitely some “not-so-good decisions” and have always tried to learn from both. Our approach has been consistent and rooted in our beliefs not only as individuals, but as parents. We often disagree on methods, perspective, execution and intention, but I have found that that is the point. It all factors into being successful, however you define that. My hope is that I am able to provide the fuel to light your fire for finding your concept of success.