"Mom, the teacher wants to talk to you..."
I never thought I would hear those words, but I cannot tell you how many times I have heard them in the last few years.
Immediately I feel like I am in trouble.
I feel like a failed parent.
I feel like a disappointment.
I feel overwhelmed.
I feel guilty.
I feel responsible.
I feel an immense amount of pressure.
Pressure to do better. Pressure to fix my child's actions. Pressure to make my child perfect.
But I don't know how to do that. I don't know where to go for answers. There is no manual, yet there are so many EXPERTS. And to date I have never birthed a perfect child.
Being a Parent is the most confusing job in the world and also the hardest job to get right. And no matter how you parent someone will think you are doing it all wrong. And since perfection is not real, I can only extend my hand to my child and offer support on this confusing journey.
My first step is always the same... admitting I don't have all the answers. I ask the teacher for advice. For counsel. And I listen and thank her.
Then I go about my way of surviving parenthood and recognize parents are saints who are sinners who are simply trying to do their best. We will make lots of mistakes. We will learn and grow from them. And we will continue to love our children.