when you feel like a good parent- and when you don't...

​You know those moments of parenting brilliance?

When you just...
say,
do,
feel,
the right way.
You keep the good energy going in your family.
You transform disaster into everything's alright.

Even if your moment of brilliance fades fast,
you tasted it.
There's no denying it,
you have brilliance within you!!

The key to parenting brilliance is....

Simple, but challenging at the same time. 
Because when you fall from grace as a parent
-- when you mess up,
yell,
lose your patience
-- when you don't feel brilliant,
it's hard to be brilliant.
And when you don't feel like a good parent,
this can create a negative cycle
-- of misbehavior
and
even-more-lack-of-parenting-brilliance.

What can you do to keep your brilliance alive?
To feel like that good parent,
so you can be that good parent
-- even during challenging times.

1) Turn your brilliance on like a light switch. 
When you feel brilliant, soak it up.
Truly notice when you feel like your highest self
as a parent.
Consciously soak it up. 
Feel what your brilliance feels like in your body.

Does your face feel calm? 
your heart alive?
your shoulders relaxed?

However your body feels,
notice it.

Then conjure up your body brilliance
when you first notice parenting starts to get hard.
Turn your brilliance on like a light switch.


2) Feel lousy? Lower your expectations.
Nurture + Connect.
Honor that some days your parenting brilliance
light switch just won't turn on.
No matter how hard you try,
you'll still feel..
tired,
stressed,
or just negative.
Try not to worry: negativity is a part of our lives.

What to do?
Do less.
Way less.

Lower your expectations for yourself.
Take things off your list.
Lay down on the floor
(or on the couch).
Just chill for a few.

And for your kids?
Forget discipline.
Focus on connection.
Do activities that nurture both you and your child.
(For me, it's playing with silks, water coloring, reading together.)
What are the kid activities that are most nurturing to you?

Then focus on how sweet your kids are (even if you have to pretend).
Because for the most part,
if you can enjoy your children's
sweet smiles,
beautiful laughs,
and dog-gone creativity
--- they will be sweet, beautiful and creative.
Let their sweet souls be part of your nurturing.


3) Cultivate you.
Get yourself some kid-free-you time.
Schedule it in.
Make it happen.
You need time for you
- whether it's one hour
or the whole day.
(And the grocery store only goes so far.)
Do something for you that
cultivates you.
Maybe it's...
a walk in the woods?
time with friends?
or date night?
Whatever you enjoy that feeds your soul:
just do it,
or take a step toward doing it.

You have an endless well
of parenting brilliance within you.
When you feel brilliant,
you are brilliant.
So notice what that brilliance
feels like in your body.
Honor that some days you'll feel negative,
no matter what.
Try turning on your body-brilliance
light switch.
If it doesn't go on,
then it's time to lower your expectations
-- for both yourself and your children.
Nurture + Connect.
And then get yourself some kid-free time
to cultivate you + feed your soul.

This week, let your brilliance guide you.
Because...
when you feel like a good parent,
you are a good parent.

You Got This.

Lots of love,
Megan