Parents can feel peaceful by the stories they tell themselves
“Doesn’t this just bug you? You just can’t win!” That was what a friend said to me one day when I was helping her clean her house. It was summer and the house was full of children. I was mopping the kitchen floor and small feet ran nimbly across hoping we didn’t see.
I have thought a lot about that question and how I feel about it. The answer for me is this “I am not at war with my children, I am here to serve.”
How do I find peace as a parent – I just work on the stories that I tell myself.
The power of a story is amazing. The stories that we tell ourselves about our own lives are the most powerful. Our stories generate feelings and expectations and can bring us joy, sorrow or anger. We can write a story of war or service and peace. How terrible to get up every morning and go to war! But to get up and serve?
Enjoy this video on the difference between waging war and giving service.
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- Self Care for Better Parenting – Part 2
- Self Care for Better Parenting – Part 1
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- The Screen Free Experiment
- 5 Tips to Put Family first
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, that’s a refreshing change of perspective. How many times do I ask for guidanace to see who I can serve outside of my home, when I can see need for service right in front of me!!! If I change my heart, it stops being a drudgery and becomes a joy. I feel less like I have to control my children and more like I can nurture them on their way to greatness. Thanks for sharing this, Mary Ann.
Children are the most wonderful gift that anybody can receive. Sometimes they disturb me a little bit but all in all, I just love them.