terrific act of parenting

My lovelies recently turned 8.

8!!!

{sniffle + sigh}

This is a big one for me because mostly everything that happened to me post-8, I remember. Well. So, I feel enormous accountability to step up my game in a very. big. way.

Living amongst NICU nurses those first few tender months of our lovelies' lives, I gleaned some of the most insightful advice ever. These nurses were mothers, grandparents, fathers, even twins themselves…all with real experience to help two very nervous first-time parents. A few of my favorites are:

It never gets easier; it just becomes different.

You are 50% responsible for what they do well and what they do wrong.

Little people, little problems. Big people, big problems.

As the years have passed {far too quickly}, I feel immense gratitude for these nuggets of wisdom, and continued appreciation for the other morsels of solid parenting advice I have been fortunate enough to stumble upon. So, in an effort to capture my guiding beliefs {I've either read, heard, or learned}, here is a list I've collected over the last eight years:

Trust your kids with something they wouldn't expect you to let them do. It builds confidence in a way few things can.

Encourage + guide them to find what interests them. Doing what your heart desires is ultimately authentic living.

Give them as much freedom as they can handle. If they show you they can't, take it away.

Listen. And find ways to show them it means something to you.

Provide limitless horizons.

Instead of criticizing, make a request.

Find a way to connect every day. My favorites are What good thing did you do today? or Did you ask any great questions today?

Children flourish under love.

Hug them until they let go.

And, my most favorite…the days are long, but the years are short. It's worth starting and ending every day with this one.

 

*photos by Haley Ann Warner