So what do you think? Is parenting the easiest or most challenging ‘job’ you’ve ever had? Or maybe it’s something in-between?

I was recently reading about a Dad who stays home with his twin infants. He was talking about what a piece of cake it was. Now… I know hanging out with kids can be an easy experience… and still, I had to chuckle about that Dad’s evaluation since he’s so new at this ‘being a parent’ thing. ;-)

To his credit… he’s setting a great tone and will most likely find being Dad a relatively easy role.  And it’s clear he doesn’t find himself stressed over the infancy stage. Actually… the most challenging moments in parenting are a result of our own attachment to having things happen a ‘certain’ way or our worry about things that haven’t even happened.

Whether that means we’re bumping up against time constraints or behaviors we find objectionable or things not looking ‘perfect’… the biggest challenge is always going to be our own inflexibility and/or imagination.

So the next time one or your kids is ‘pushing your buttons’, stop and take a breath. As you count to 10 consider whether the tension you feel might be a result of you wanting to have your own way just as badly as they want theirs.

Get clear about what’s up for you around the issue and go within to decide whether it’s negotiable or not. When you’re clear and calm it’s a whole lot easier to deliver a clear message to your child. When you’re in doubt you send mixed messages and kids will catch that every time!

So don’t make things harder than they need to be. If you’re standing in a ‘NO’ let yourself own it in every cell of your body and your child will read that loud and clear… even if you merely whisper it!

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