Helicopter parents are a readily identifiable species: Omnipresent, hovering, constantly scanning the area for dangers (both real and imagined) that might warrant swooping in to rescue their beloved child(ren). Many people know at least a few who fit that description, and some of us will recognize ourselves therein. Although I do not know if there
Tag: imperfect parenting
I have two sets of children. The first set, a girl and a boy, were carefully planned, exactly 2 years apart. The second set, not so much. We wanted a third child, but gave up after years of heartbreak. Months later, it somehow happened, and then it split in half. This brought identical twins to
I used to be really good at creating an illusion of perfection. For example, when I hosted play dates, my house could easily be mistaken for a model home. Shining, clutter free counter tops with a seasonal Yankee Candle burning for ambience. Swept floors. Organized play room. Craft station set up with toddler sized smocks
When our son was born, I couldn’t wait for him to reach his next developmental milestone. Would he walk early like my brother? Or grow his baby teeth on time? His round little face and bright brown eyes were curious about everything and everyone. Would he be as engaging with new friends as he was with his
If you’ve ever suffered from the common cold of the behavioral health world, you may understand the overwhelming sadness produced by this mood disorder. For example, the only times I believed my marriage would end, were the times I struggled with depression. Feelings of worthlessness, lethargy, or irritability as a single person, imagine these feelings in
I had a very specific vision of the type of parent I wanted to be. And then I became a parent and was smacked in the face with reality. I still have the same basic core values and I won’t budge on those. But then there’s everything else. I will be the first to admit,
I’ve talked before about my perfectionistic tendencies and they way that they impact my parenting. It is hard for me to strike that balance between being the best mom I can be while still allowing realness to show. Recently, I was faced with a situation in which I had no choice but to let the walls
I’m not a perfect mom. Whatever “perfect” means, anyway. There are times I can be pretty hard on myself, thinking about all of the things I could, or should, do better. You know, like how I should clean more, yell less, improve my cooking, do more arts and crafts with (and without) my kids, find
As far back as I can remember, I have been a perfectionist. Great things have come from this trait (good grades! scholarships! accolades!), but perfectionism is painfully limiting as well. Let me let you in on a little secret…perfectionists aren’t good at everything (who is?) – they simply limit themselves to the things they are
