Am I a terrible parent?
Children are magical little balls of energy and love. AND children are also challenging, frustrating little balls of energy and _______ (fill in the blank – tantrums, rage, stubbornness, etc.).
While society has made it difficult for parents to express negative feelings about their children, it is completely understandable and natural to love and cherish your child and find them impossible to be around at times.
You might think, “I’m a terrible parent for not liking my kid all the time,” or “Something is wrong with me because I don’t enjoy being with my child 24/7.”
Listen to this.
I will tell you – with the utmost confidence – there is nothing wrong with you. Parenting is hard! Every age and stage comes with new challenges.
You are not alone, whether you are in the trenches with a toddler, navigating the school-age years, or trying to connect with your teen without losing your mind.
Each of these ages and stages requires you to parent differently. A toddler’s needs differ greatly from a school-age child’s or teenager’s.
Being a parent requires so much navigation.
As a parent, you are constantly faced with making tough decisions. Do you give your toddler the space to try skills by themselves, even if it means failure or a few tears of frustration? Or do you instinctively jump in and help, or do it for them to avoid a negative experience?
When your fifth grader forgets to do their homework, do you let them go to school and explain to their teacher, so they learn the natural consequences of being irresponsible, or do you write them a note to avoid a meltdown to get them off the hook?
Is there a way to be both friend and parent to your teen, or do they need a firmly set boundary to avoid confusion of roles which can create an out-of-control teenager?
This is not what you want for your family
You never thought you would be the parent constantly feeling angry or annoyed with your child.
When you wake up each day, you tell yourself, “I’m not going to yell today.” But, after telling them nicely to please clean up their toys or start their homework 20 times, you find yourself screaming.
You feel like you have tried everything, including “keep calm,” but nothing seems to work.
No matter how hard you try, conflicts between you and your child arise, leaving you frustrated, angry, and disappointed.
Be the parent you want to be.
You are ready to make the necessary changes to be the parent you want to be!
With my knowledge from not only clinical but lived experiences, I can help you do that.
I will create a space where you will feel safe and supported to express your feelings and thoughts without judgment or criticism. We will collaborate to develop an individualized plan depending on your unique challenges and strengths. We will address where you are now and establish goals for where you would like to be.
Contact me right now for a complimentary 20-minute consultation. It’s my honor and privilege to help you.