-
1. Compassion: See me as a work-in-progress. Remember, I just got here. So, I’m still figuring things out. You too?
-
2. Vulnerability: Recognize my needs by recognizing your own unmet needs and healing old wounds.
-
3. Connection: Our relationship shapes me, not a set of rules.
-
4. Authenticity: Be real, and you will preserve my true self. I don’t expect you to know it all. Just be real with me.
-
5. Awareness: Know yourself. That way you’ll understand your reactions and fears--and mine.
-
6. Empathy: Put yourself in my booties. It’s works; it heals and it makes me (and you) feel really good.
-
7. Self-empathy: Feel for yourself. You have feelings and needs too. That’s how you embrace my vulnerability.
-
8. Trust: Believe in me and trust in your own gut. Otherwise you’ll get really confused listening to everyone’s opinion about what to do with me.
-
9. Respect. Don’t squash my spirit. It’s the only one I’ve got.
-
10.Acceptance: Embrace your flaws. If you were perfect, you’d have nothing to teach me.
-
11.Restoration: Repair the breaks. Let’s start anew every day.
-
12.Gratitude: Enjoy the ride without riding the brakes.
-
13.Inspiration: Parent inspired. Let me give you ideas about how to parent me according to my nature.
-
14.Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a gift to me and yourself. If you let go of unrealistic expectations, you’ll enjoy parenting me a lot more than if you held me (and yourself) to an impossible standard.
-
15.Courage: Nevermind the Jones’s. Stop comparing. Stop competing. Muster your wits to stand up for yourself--and me. Live your most extraordinary parenting journey with “no regrets.” That’s the best gift you could give me.
