Parenting lessons learnt from running a business
The last few weeks have reminded me of a few key reasons I am so happy that, many years ago, I took the step of investing in parenting courses and 1:1 parent coaching sessions.
I have loved and felt incredibly lucky to be working on so many exciting things in my first month at The Parent Practice, particularly because I know they can make such a significant positive difference to children and families. But, as with all things, there have been challenges…
With transitioning and learning to use IT systems I am not familiar with - and therefore having at least 342 queries for our amazing Tech Support advisers, Tris and Luke!
With getting lots set up behind the scenes at the same time as providing continuity with client work - where our previous owner, Elaine Halligan, and our Office Manager, Nicole, have been incredibly generous with their time and expertise.
And with making adjustments to both work and family life, to ensure I can run the business and also have time with my children and support them, all in the ways that I want to. These challenges have been somewhat exacerbated since it's also the time of year where Autumn viruses are popping up left, right and centre and school WhatsApp groups go into overdrive - with all the things you need to book/buy/bring in/dress up for in the run up to the festive period!
“We all need to call on the expertise of others in all areas of our life if we want to reach our potential.”
All of this has reminded me just how much we all need to call on the expertise of others in all areas of our life if we want to reach our potential. Recently for me, it has been asking Elaine, Nicole, Tris and Luke for help with tech support (a lot!) and knowledge of the business to date. But it is the same with parenting. To be our best, we need to ask those around us for support. Both those who can help us with the practical, day to day (I'm always on the look out for good babysitters!) and those who can help us with how we develop our parenting skills and become the parents we want to be.
The last month has also reminded me just how much having a toolkit of parenting skills to hand not only helps our children thrive, but also makes everything else in life so much easier for us as individuals - especially when we're under pressure, feeling time poor and spinning lots of plates!
We all have enough going on without family life feeling like a constant challenge, or wondering what on earth we should do when issues arise with our children. I have been so grateful over the last month that I can so easily draw on parenting skills I have learnt and which now feel like second nature to use.
It has meant that my children have been able to navigate various changes without issue. I have been able to focus on the things that matter for my children and work and be efficient with my time - I haven't been wasting precious time and energy trying to work out what has been going on for my children or what I can do to help them. And none of us have ended up at the end of our tether (well, except maybe me when I have not for the life of me been able to work out some of the finer points of updating websites…do you see a theme for me here?!).
It's reminded me how learning parenting skills can kick start such a positive cycle. There are the obvious benefits for our children, us as parents and our family lives but there is so much more as well. When we make one area of life so much easier, we also free up the time, energy and capacity that we want to devote to other personal and professional areas of our lives.
I'm conscious that I would likely say this given my job! But, as they say, the proof is in the pudding and the reality is, I don't know any parents - personally or professionally - who have invested in parenting courses or coaching and who haven't then enthusiastically spoken about all the brilliant knock on effects there have been in their lives.
I'm not for a minute saying that investing in parenting skills is going to make us perfect parents (there's no such thing) or create some kind of perfect life of the type often seen in a seasonal John Lewis advert (or Waitrose this year!). But for a healthier, happier and more peaceful life, it's a very good place to start.
If you have any questions about any of our courses or coaching, please do get in touch.
Email us at admin@theparentpractice.com or book a free Discovery Call with me to have a friendly chat about how we can work together to help support you and your family.