The time I thanked myself…

A colleague challenged me to complete this prompt:

Thank yourself for the ways you showed up as a parent.

Ugh. How uncomfortable!

But what poured out of me was surprising.

And I want to share what I wrote with you.

I thank myself for being resilient when I found out that my son had ADD.

For being open to every possible solution even though I was scared.

For being determined to find the best resources even when I hit dead ends.

For searching for a new school when he wasn’t getting the support he needed.

I thank myself for loving him, even when he was a little sh!t.

For trying to stay patient when he pushed back.

For trying to stay calm when things were turbulent.

For trying not to lose it when his choices scared me.

I thank myself for not giving up on him.

For believing that he would figure things out.

For knowing nothing was wrong with WHO he was.

I thank myself for taking responsibility for the part I played and not putting all the blame on him.

For having the strength and courage to get help.

For being willing to invest the time and money to make our relationship better.

For not being consumed by thinking I’m a terrible parent.

I thank myself for believing in him, even when it’s hard.

For believing he would graduate from college and find a job he enjoyed.

For believing that he would find his people.

For believing he will be a great husband and dad.

As I wrote this, tears streamed down my face.

Because there is nothing a mother won’t do for her child.

I’d never taken the time to fully acknowledge how tough parenting was and appreciate that I never gave up on him or myself.

Try this exercise no matter how old your kids are.

If it impacts you like it did for me, please share it with a friend.

And feel deeply grateful to yourself for doing the most important job in the world.

❤️ Jeanine