Core Truths

There is no such thing as perfect parenting. Let me say that again. There is no such thing as perfect parenting. Here it is one more time for the people in the back. There is no such thing as perfect parenting. If you are in doubt, I can assure you that if there were such a thing, whoever came up with it would be a gajillionaire right now! We would have all read the book, we would have all listened to the podcast, and we would have all attended the weekend-long event. But that hasn’t happened because there is no such thing. I think we all, at one point or another, are sure we will do it well, that we will do it better, that we will somehow avoid the mistakes and pitfalls of other parents. Some of us vow not to do a thing like our own parents, and some of us just look around and say, “Did you see that lady and her kid in the store? I would never!” Some of us read all of the books and we are experts before the little bundle of joy even arrives. We are armed ...

Over the course of my lifetime, I have held many different jobs and titles. When I was a young teenager I started off as a babysitter for neighboring families, while in college I spent some time as a bank-teller, I was later a front-office receptionist who made my way up to office manager, and then much later I was a teacher and instructional coach. But of all the jobs I have ever held, there was none I was so terrible at as I was at being a waitress. I mean, I was bad. I’m sure you have experienced the bad type of service I would deliver. I was the waitress who (and these are literal examples) would take down your order, word for word, and then not bring out the salad or the appetizers. I was the waitress who would ask if you needed anything else, would listen to your reply, and then never bring back whatever it was you asked for. I was the waitress who would forget to bring your check so you finally just closed out your ticket with the hostess. I mean, I was bad. There was n...