The Next Right Thing - Parenting Edition

September 9, 2021

Jon and I are just starting to feel like our heads are coming up a little above the water’s stormy surface after a really difficult 2+ year parenting season.  One that felt like it was thrown at us and we didn’t have a say. One filled with heartache and fear and not-always-knowing-what-to-do.

It’s not our first hard parenting season.  There have certainly been others but none this intense or long lasting.

We missed a lot of the warning signs, we learned she felt all alone, and we have had to forgive ourselves for that.  But since knowing, we have been showing up 100%.  We are more present and attuned than we were 1 year ago, 2 years ago, 5 years ago. 

We have been working as a team.  Taking deep breaths.  Going day by day.  Asking questions.  Talking a lot.  Having hard conversations.  Holding boundaries.  Figuring out the next right thing.  Asking for help.  Showing up.  Doing the best we can.  Repeat.  Repeat. Repeat.

Dropping our girl off at school today was so much harder than when she went to kindergarten.  But we know she can’t be out of the world forever.  She needs to get back in it one step at a time.  And we will help her with this.  We are terrified and hopeful all at once. 

Last night, she told me she feels like she has a fresh start knowing she has a strong team to support her.  She is not alone.  This morning was still really hard, but she is brave and strong and healing.  So are we.

Thank you to everyone on her team, to everyone on our team.  We are so grateful and hopeful for the future.

To all the parents: Parenting is hard.  You are doing a great job.  You will not always know what to do.  That’s okay.  Keep showing up.  Keep asking for help. 

If you are in a stormy season, call me (or Jon) if you need a listening ear or team member in your corner.  We’re here for it.