What makes a good parent?

Being a parent can be demanding . Nowadays there are many sites and gurus advertising their method as a foolproof way to bring up happy, healthy, well-adjusted kids, as well as  societies expectations of good parenting.

It can be a minefield of frustration and self bashing when your kids don’t appear to sit  in the shiny, airbrushed family profile.

The first step in feeling confident as a parent is in ditching expectations, loving yourself so much you overflow with a  powerful , settled love  which , in turn, gives the foundation to support others .

It’s not about  giving into our children’s every whim,  but by being able to say no to behaviours that aren’t supportive for the whole family while celebrating the diverse ways our children see this world and their place in it.

Children thrive when they feel a valued part of the family. When included in the day to day family business, whether walking the family dog, stacking the dishwasher or reading to a younger sibling.

Having responsibility allows them to feel what that's like in a nurturing place. Being valued and included as a potential young adult helps them grow and expand into taking on more responsibilities confidently.

It's not all about work and no play but it is about recognising and encouraging their amazing potential which can be harnessed through meaningful interactions.

Author Sam Rossiter