What is the difference between SURVIVING and THRIVING as you parent your children?
Surviving: Getting through today.
Thriving: Planning and evaluating the days.Surviving: Reacting to situations.
Thriving: Responding thoughtfully to situations.Surviving: Short term thinking.
Thriving: Long term thinking.
Who gets to survive, and who gets to thrive? Our goal is always for Mom & Dad to thrive and for children to thrive. However, our daily realities look more like, “Mom/Dad survives; child thrives.” We get overwhelmed and get too busy trying to survive because we want to make sure that our kids don’t miss out. But what does that busyness cost us?
Thriving in parenting doesn’t mean it is happening every hour of the day. We do not need to orchestrate every hour to be intellectually/emotionally/physically stimulating for little Susie. Free play and down time is good. Rest is good; sometimes parents need it as much as their children. The parent reality is sometimes we survive now, so that we can thrive later. There will be days that you just (barely) survive. In those moments, it is essential that you know what are some of your survival musts to help you get through it.
Hot shower?
Date night with your spouse?
More sleep?
Time at the gym?
Venti latte?
The evil one wants to discourage us with comparisons, mistakes, fears, and entitlement. We need to change our internal conversation with realistic, stage-appropriate expectations of our children and ourselves. Our attachment to our expectations affects our view and quality of life.
So how can YOU THRIVE today? First start by changing your internal I-should-have conversation to: Today, I can . . . ! Enjoy that walk, sit with your latte, and take that small survival-must moment for yourself. Now, you can pour into your children from a full cup.