I’ve just finished filming 6 hours of footage for a potential new series for Channel 4 and one thing that they seemed to like, was my idea of writing down what you get right as a parent and what goes WELL each day.
We are all very good at beating ourselves up over what we get wrong….. but I encourage all the parents I coach to focus on what they get RIGHT . This builds up confidence, motivation and happiness.
I want you to sit down with a cup of coffee and a pen and paper and just ponder what you get RIGHT !
Write down all the things you are really good at as a parent. Don’t be modest, don’t be shy, and don’t be too hard on yourself – just write!
That’s it!
You might be good at listening, good at hearing your kids read, patient about their untidy bedrooms, or always providing a healthy, nutritious meal every night for them, or you may always be at the touchline on a Sunday with a bottle of water in hand and an encouraging word after they’ve been subbed from their football game.
Just relax and write it all down.
It’s time to celebrate what you are good at – time to celebrate your successes and to let go of your mistakes.
Time to pat yourself on the back!
The reason I get parents I work with to do this and to write in their “Positive Parent Journal” regularly is because so many of us focus on what we get wrong, do badly or can’t achieve and feel guilty, negative and despondent a lot of the time.
But we forget what we do get lots of things right and writing it down cheers us up, keeps us motivated and reminds us that we are doing our best. This really helps us to feel positive and upbeat in our parenting and works wonders for your self esteem!
So read through your list, enjoy these feelings of success and do it regularly to make you feel good!
And now go and celebrate by having a cappuccino, glass of wine or a natter on the phone – you deserve it!
p.s If you’d like to buy my “Positive Parent Journal” so you can enjoy doing this simple exercise every night to build up your own parenting confidence it’s available by clicking here
Download your copy of Sue’s Ebook
How to give your kids the gift of self-esteem by clicking here
About the author
Sue Atkins is a Parenting Expert who offers practical guidance for bringing up happy, confident, well behaved children. She is also the author of “Raising Happy Children for Dummies” one in the famous black and yellow series published worldwide and the highly acclaimed Parenting Made Easy CDs. She regularly appears on BBC Breakfast and The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 and her parenting articles are published all over the world.
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Sue Atkins the Parenting Expert
T: + 44 1342 833355 M: 07740 622769
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