After 15 years as a parent (or 54 years of concurrent parenting, which MUCH more accurately explains my exhaustion and the incessant twitch in my left eye), I have one piece of parenting advice to offer.
ONE piece of really, really, ridiculously GOOD parenting advice, if I do say so myself.
It’s this:
ALWAYS do the Right Thing.
Until it doesn’t work anymore.
Then do the Next Right Thing.
That’s right.
That’s parenting gold right there.
Always do the Right Thing, folks!
Until it doesn’t work anymore. Then do the Next Right Thing.
For example, breastfeeding is the Right Thing. Do it! Until it’s not the Right Thing. Then do the Next Right Thing.
Also, public school is the Right Thing. Send your kids there! Until it’s not the Right Thing. Then do the Next Right Thing.
Except, you know, if you’re like me and you aren’t always sure what the Right Thing is, in which case I urge you to do Something. Something With the Very Best Intentions!
Which may turn out to be the Wrong Thing.
But as soon as you figure out it’s the Wrong Thing, you can do Something Else. True story!
Which (shhhhh) may ALSO be the Wrong Thing.
OR it’ll be a step closer to the Right Thing!
Or it may even be THE Right Thing.
WOOHOO!
Now, sure, it may be THE Right Thing for only a Little While, but a Right Thing for a Little While is better than a Right Thing for NO TIME AT ALL, right? RIGHT? Right.
Then again, if you’re Super Duper Extra Lucky, you might discover a Right Thing that lasts a LONG While.
WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!
Of course — big bummer 🙁 — it will almost certainly not be the Right Thing Forever, because the Right Way to Parent Forever is the big, giant Unicorn of Parenting; it’s a gorgeous fantasy, but good luck finding one on your next walk through the forest, you know?
So, to summarize my Very Best Parenting Advice, I present to you:
Parenting in 5 Easy Steps
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This is why I don’t write parenting advice books. They’d be very, VERY short. More of a parenting pamphlet, really.
My friend, Susan Heid, however, does! Which leads me to today’s giveaway.
Today is Day 2 of 7 Giveaways!
I invited the 5 Kids Blog advertisers (see the column to your right) to join me for 7 (or more!) days of giveaways. CHECK BACK for a NEW GIVEAWAY EVERY DAY.
In her book, Become the Confident Mom You’ve Always Wanted to Be: 31 Strategies to Improve Your Confidence as a Woman, Mother, and Family Manager, author and parent coach Susan Heid explains how using these 31 essential strategies can help you guide your family with love, faith, a positive outlook, and confidence. This will help you achieve a more fulfilling family atmosphere and prepare your children to positively maneuver through life’s many opportunities and challenges.
Today, Susan Heid of The Confident Mom is giving away 5 Kindle copies of Become the Confident Mom You’ve Always Wanted to Be.
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our book winners:
Maria K
Brandi P
Beth G
Mamapotamus
Bryanna Henry
TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this blog post by 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on Monday, December 16th. One entry per person, please. Winners will be selected using a random number generator and posted on Monday.
Note: The 5 Kids Blog advertisers provided no additional compensation for these giveaways. Susan Heid is paying for the cost of the giveaway. She paid me for her ad only, and this just seemed like a fun way to work together for your benefit. OK? OK.
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38 responses to “Parenting in 5 Easy Steps (and Day 2 of 7 Giveaways)”
Beth, maybe you’ve already done a post like this and I missed it, but I wanted to make a request I guess lol. I don’t know that you “take” requests, but I’d love to hear your ideas, methods on something. So I have a 4 and 5 year old, you’ve been there, passed it, survived, all kids are still alive and doing well so I ask you…. What type of schedule or routine do you use in your house, do you have a “chore or behavior chart” system, what types of discipline/ direction do you use with your kids if the do break rules? As a single mom, hearing your side on those things and getting some ideas would be drops of gold falling on my somewhat foggy and apparently not so effective methods lol Not to mention I am a SAHM so I “should” be able to do EVERYTHING with the house and them and them be behaved, but somehow I am missing the mark. PS I love love love your blog, it makes me feel “normal” and makes me smile, which we all need always, thank you for sharing your life with us strangers 🙂
I have shared your blog with all – my age with grands and/or none and young with children. You make me smile.
Merry Christmas!
This sounds great. I could use more confidence.
This sounds like a good read. And this is something I feel I don’t have oftentimes. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
Who couldn’t use a little extra confidence in their parenting? Love!
Who can’t use parenting help?! I take any advice I can get! I’d love to win the book!!!
Sounds like an interesting book!!
I like your blog too! Thanks Beth for preparing me for parenthood!!
Congratulations, Bryanna! You won the Confident Mom Kindle book. I’m sending you an email shortly with details. xo