It is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. We get lost in the busyness, trying to keep up with expectations from ourselves and others. Often it stops us being present and connecting with the kid in front of us.

This quote that has been attributed to Maya Angelou always gives me a wake up call:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Gulp. It is true though - when you think back to your own childhood, you might not be able to remember specifics but I am sure you can remember how you felt at times.

This is where a daily parenting intention can help - it serves as a simple reminder or mantra to use when you feel swamped by the To Do list.

Pare it down to what really matters. You get to decide.

Step 1) Create one parenting intention for the day (it can be the same one everyday)

Step 2) Make it specific, not vague

Step 3) Make it something you want to do not something you want to stop

Step 4) Check in and reflect at the end of the day

Step 5) If you didn’t manage it, don’t beat yourself up.

Awareness is the key. Just try again tomorrow.

My regular parenting intention is to be more present (and put my phone away). Specifically to really notice my son - at least once a day soak him in without distraction.

Now of course I get caught up in the day to day stuff but if I have set this intention in the morning it at least gives me a mantra that I can fall back on, especially when things go pear shaped.

‘Notice’.

If I can manage to do it - even for glimpses of time - then I always feel more connected to my son at the end of the day and it always seems to make things go more smoothly.