I have found that each parent has different things that they most would like to pass on to their children. These areas usually fall under the parents own talents and strengths, mixed with their fondest memories and situations to be avoided. If you can identify your top 3, you will be more authentic in spending your time with your children and asking for help with the other things.

I have learnt to ask for help in current tips and trends in certain developmental skills, behavioural expectations and routines within systems (schooling environment or the like), as these areas are an important part of their ‘holistic’ development; however areas I tend not to focus on too much.
What I would like my children to take from being parented by me is:-

• knowing how to be happy and in charge of their own happiness,
• a health and wellbeing mindset, and
• the importance of connecting with meaningful others.

These things are important to me, and the time I spend with my children that I most enjoy is usually around these outcomes.

I am a fun mum, a mum who fosters independence and likes to muck around, play and adores me time. I am often jumping from one task to the next, don’t sit still for too long and get bored very easily. When my children are presented with situations that they need to sit still or have a long attention span, I listen to the requirements and immediately call in help and support (normally my husband; whose 3 most important things to pass on to the children are not the same as mine!), to guide them in these areas. This is where, without judgment, getting in touch with your strengths and then building on them makes the parenting experience a much more enjoyable one whether you have little time or lots of it.

© Kirsty O’Callaghan
www.unity-qld.com.au