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Challenge: Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

What happens when you're the lifelong kid of an imperfect parent

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Nothing can prepare you

-- adequately enough, anyway --

for what happens when you're a parent.

You start with raising a baby you're not even sure you're qualified enough to raise.

And raising your voice is something you try never to do but continually fail at.

You feed the kid.

You keep them safe.

You provide them with an education and lots of opportunities.

You try to educate yourself on how to do this "guardian" thing better.

You recognize that you could be a better adult.

You attempt to raise your kid into one that is,
without a doubt,
better than you.

You show support.

You give advice.

You're candid with them and eventually tell them not always to do as you advise; that they, too, can have opinions and make choices for themselves, and you

just

sit there

...

hoping and praying

they make the right ones.

But you don't always make the right one.

Or say the right thing.

You screw up.

But you pick yourself up

and you model for your child

how
to
do
the
same.

You worry.

You work.

You whine (and wine, lol).

You ask God to watch over them.

You ask God to watch you,

and help you monitor your mouth

and your attitude

and the energy you are bringing to the family table.

Nothing can prepare you

-- adequately enough, anyway --

for what happens when you're a parent.

You start with raising a baby that you're not even sure you're qualified enough to raise

and then

BOOM,

she's looking to raise herself.

She's raising her standards.

She's raising her voice...FOR GOOD and when it matters.

She's raising her grades.

She's raising her expectations -- both for her and you,

and she’s raising the bar for girls her age.

And she's expecting you to rise to the occasion.

You don't have a choice.

You must.

And you can.

And because you will,

she will be prepared

-- adequately enough, anyway --

for what happens when you're the lifelong kid of an imperfect parent.


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