Carolina Parenting Solutions, PLLC

"Helping Families Find Joy in Parenting"

It's more than a slogan.......

Why do we become parents?  It certainly isn't for the hard work, long hours and temper tantrums.  Hopefully, we choose to become parents in order to shape young characters, teach life lessons and re-experience the joy that life brings through the eyes of a little being connected to you like no other.

The hard work, long hours and frequent and persistent tests on patience and nerves can wear out the best of us.  I spend lots of time helping parents find that joy in parenting, refocusing efforts and regaining the happiness that comes with the privilege of being intrusted a little soul to shape and care for during childhood.

Here's your challenge for the New Year.........find the joy in your parenting every day.

Here are some tips that can help you start the New Year off on the path of finding that joy........

Stay optimistic and joyful yourself. 

You are your child's best model for behavior.

Plan ahead and be prepared. Then, expect the unexpected.

Change chores, routines into games and challenges.

Teach. teach. teach.  Homeschooling or traditional school, the parent must be the primary teacher of your child.  The most important lessons are about how to make sense of the world around them, develop critical thinking, develop passion and compassion and how to act or behave with those feelings.

Embrace mistakes.  Just about every day I give the message to  my families that the child's learning is in the accidents or mistakes.  Harshness, being punitive and over reacting leads to anxiety--anxiety counteracts joy.  Mistakes are essential for a child to learn.....what they learn most, ofcourse, is how grown ups handle mistakes.....teach them to feel safe and accepted through your reactions.

Time Out.  No, not the disciplinary technique, but relax and stop looking at the time. Find ways to unplug, take off your watches and get back to basics-play and talk with your child and let her lead the way.