A Little Perspective on Parenting
My fellow business owners know this well: Life as an entrepreneur is full of sacrifices, learning, growth, and surprises.
It has high peaks like nothing else I’ve experienced and low valleys that I’m thankful to have climbed out of. As a studio owner, there have been times where I know this life is THE perfect fit and other times where I’ve wondered what I’ve gotten myself into.
If I’m being totally honest, there have also been times when I’ve gone home from a long day of work and felt like I didn’t have any energy left for my husband and kids. I’ve walked through the door already feeling wrung out from the day. And so I would feel discouraged that I didn’t feel like I was my best self with the people I love the most.
Maybe you can relate?
I think this discord in our professional and personal lives is totally normal and yet also really, unmistakably HARD. It’s taken me years and years to realize that even on the days that feel utterly imbalanced, I’m actually still doing something right!
Because even on those not-so-great-nights, I’ve always pulled myself up the stairs to do a bedtime tuck-in. I’ve always made myself pause to SEE my kids’ faces and to speak a word of blessing over them. Even if it’s just for a moment. Even with the teenagers. No, ESPECIALLY with the teenagers. 🙂
What I say varies from night to night, but usually includes some version of this prayer:
“You are a mighty man of God, a man of mercy and honor, and I’m proud of you.”
Sometimes my kids seem to love these moments; other times I’m pretty sure they just tolerate it for my sake.
But I do it no matter their reactions. I’m imagining that YOU probably do something like this with your kids too … maybe it’s also a prayer. Maybe it’s a moment of gratitude or reflection of the day. Whatever it is, it’s something that your kids are listening to, whether they acknowledge it or not.
Last week, when I got to work one morning, I found this drawing in my notebook by my 10-year-old son Benji, and it reminded me of the significance of these nighttime moments. It reminded me that the words we speak TO and OVER and ABOUT our kids have such a profound impact on how they view themselves in this world.
I’ve had moments as a parent where I’ve felt like I’ve nailed it and moments where I’ve felt like I’ve failed it. But no matter how the day goes, I climb those stairs and do my best to speak life over my kids before the day closes.
So yes, my eyes got wet when I saw this picture that Benji drew. This picture, just sitting openly on my desk as if to say, “Here I am, Mom. I heard you.”
I don’t know about you, but that definitely looks like a picture of mighty and merciful to me. <3
And so if you hear it from no one else, hear it from me now: The rituals and words you have with your kids matter. YOU matter. THEY understand, even if it doesn’t seem like they do.
Keep going, friends. Keep living the entrepreneurial life; keep striving. And most of all, keep doing what you’re doing for your kids. Parenting is HARD and WONDERFUL all at once. But you’re doing it … and they’re getting the message.
Wishing you grace for the day and joy for the journey!
Love, Misty
