In late December, I experienced a parenting milestone which I’ll never forget—I was with my oldest daughter and her husband as they welcomed their first child into the world.
My grandson is only three weeks old and I’m still in awe of this surreal and breathtaking experience. After 25 years of motherhood, I didn’t think I could feel the love that I have for my own eight kids for another human being. But after cutting my grandson’s umbilical cord and hearing him cry for the first time, I can honestly tell you that my heart grew right out of my chest.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I was so overwhelmed. Sure he was incredibly beautiful and adorable beyond words. And yes he is the newest branch of our family tree. Of course I loved listening to his newborn coos and holding him tight, smelling that newborn baby smell that is so intoxicating. But that wasn’t it. What really melted my heart and soul was watching my daughter’s eyes gaze upon her son and seeing her unconditional love as she soothed him in the first moments of his life. It took my breath away.
As those first days unfolded, my daughter and I spent a lot of time together, observing the ins and outs of who he her son was, and we talked—a lot—about parenthood.
As the oldest of my brood of eight, my daughter had the tough role of being second in command. Thankfully, she was a natural and loved the responsibility of being a mother’s helper throughout her childhood. She saw firsthand the delicate balance that was required to keep our large household running (somewhat) smoothly.
As she prepared to go home from the hospital, she admitted to feeling extremely excited but quite nervous about this huge responsibility that was now hers. She joked about the sleepless nights that were ahead and wondered when she’d have five minutes alone in the bathroom again. But the one question that was really weighing on her mind was what constitutes a successful parent.
Success means something different to everyone, but in my decades of parenting eight kids I have discovered that my measure of success is being happy and appreciative of the small moments in each day.
Whether you’re raising the next President of the United States or struggling with your learning-disabled child, here are Mighty Mommy's four basic strategies for being a successful parent:
- Be consistent.
- Don’t compare one child to another.
- Be a positive role model.
- Eat up the ordinary.
Let’s dive in a bit deeper into each one:
Strategy #1: Be Consistent
If there is one single piece of advice I would give...
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