Just know, as a parent, you'll never be perfect. BUT you don't have to be. If you try your best and love your kids as much as you can, that's saying a LOT.
I don't know why I ever thought my parents knew what they were doing because, now that I have my own kids, I have no clue what's going on most of the time. I feel like I'm literally winging it and it's a little scary.
In that vein, here are 7 things to do to build up your confidence as a parent.
- Build yourself up. Believe in yourself cuz you've got this!
- Make a decision and commit to your newfound confidence. That doesn't mean you have all the answers or that you're perfect. It's about remaining calm and not getting rattled when you don't have the answers.
- Remember that you are capable. Stick with your decisions. Unsure what to do? Ask around. Google stuff. Talk to your friends and family. Find experts.
- Don't let your kids see you crack. You'll still probably have a blow up or two (I'd be surprised if you didn't). Just remember to stay calm as often as possible.
- Learn to laugh things off. There are little things you don't need to worry about or make a big deal about. As a parent you have to think 5 steps ahead. If you miss or mess up one of those steps, just shake it off (thanks Taylor!) and keep going. Resilience, my friend!
- Stop comparing. Don't compare your kids to one another. Don't compare yourself to other parents. Everyone does things in their own way and in their own time.
- Accept that, even if you become a super confident parent, you'll still slip up every once in a while. You'll question yourself. You'll mess up. Don't beat yourself up about it.
(KSAT) Photo: Getty/Flashpop