One Thing All Parents Have in Common is That We Make Mistakes

In my family, the shit hits the fan on an almost daily basis.

It’s not what it looks like on Instagram. It’s stickier.

I won’t sugar coat my family’s struggles or gloss over the hard stuff just because I'm coaching parents. I will see my part in a conflict with my kid, I won’t exaggerate behaviors for attention, and I will acknowledge the help I’ve gotten along the way. I don’t believe anyone has all the answers, especially not me. If “good enough parenting” means making mistakes, admitting mistakes, seeking help, and learning from mistakes, I’m a good enough parent.

I just got two emails that couldn’t be more different, both from parent coaches. One claims to be the best at what she does. She brags about her kids, taking credit for their achievements, but it’s obvious she doesn’t know MY kid. I was rolling my eyes by the second line. 

The other coach paints a worst-case scenario picture of a dramatic family crisis, and claims she overcame it by creating a method out of thin air (while teaching thousands of parents to do the same). She claims that…