Does any of the following sound like you?

• What if what I’m doing (or not doing) is going to “mess up my child”

• They say, “it takes a village” but why can’t I find mine? Or where is mine?

• I see all of these moms on social media crushing it, but cannot get it together myself.

• It is SO hard to help my child when I am struggling myself

• Everyone seems to be concerned about how my child is doing (and rightfully so), but it would be nice to have someone check on me and be concerned about me and my well-being, too.

• I feel like the days are endless and I find myself tired before I even wake up

• I’m a “bad parent” because I constantly find myself yelling at my child(ren) or frustrated with them

• I have no support on my journey of being a gentle, conscious, positive, or intentional parent. It makes it hard to want to continue

• I have tried this “new” parenting style(s), and my child is still throwing tantrums and not listening.

• I am at my WITS END and not sure where to turn

There is SO much information on what children should look like or what parenting should be like. But the truth is, every situation is different and every journey is different. That is both the beauty (and the challenge) of parenthood.

Trust me, I have been there in the sea of disappointment, confusion, and frustration (and still fall victim sometimes) in which I am so grateful for my village to help pull me out and lift me up. Everyone deserves that.

And although I have worked with and helped many families thrive with support and resources throughout my professional career. I know what it’s like to struggle with juggling many hats and the pressures that come with parenting because years ago (when I had my second to be exact), that struggle consumed me. I know what it’s like to wake up and feel the weight of the world on your shoulders and to lay down at night thinking about all the things I did “wrong” or places in which I “dropped” the ball, like forgetting about a class party or being too wrapped up in work that I didn’t see my child for more than two hours out of the day (if at all) and thinking “I AM FAILING AT THIS.”

It got SO bad that I remember a time when I was SO burnt out and disconnected, I was on a rampage and my oldest looked at me and very plainly said, “mommy, why are you being so mean?” It was because I had put on my superhero cape and was dedicated to take care of everyone else. The problem was, I wasn’t taking care of myself.

The truth of the matter is this: no one human can do it all. We are not built to do that. It is not possible. Help is not a dirty word or something to be ashamed of asking for. When we are at OUR best, we can help children be at their best. We must fill our cup up in order to pour into others. I made a conscious decision that day to do just that! Commit to being my best self, so I can help my children do the same.

And it has also fueled me to help others achieve the same! To have the capacity, the knowledge, the resources, but most importantly…the support to show up for our children in the best possible way. To wake up confident in their abilities to tackle all that parenting can throw our way (and managing hiccups along the way because they are sure to come)!

There is no guide or “one size fits all” approach to raising or supporting a child. Each of us have our own set of strengths, abilities, and qualities and together we can help us all achieve and attain the family dynamic we envision for our families and support one another along the way! It truly takes a village, come join ours!