Pause and notice what you are carrying
This may be a good time to slow down and do a little reflecting. Not because you need to figure everything out, but because you may need a moment to notice what all of this has been bringing up for you.
What are you feeling as you navigate some of the things you’ve been discovering about your child? I’ve been a mom long enough to know that when our children struggle, we can easily begin to wonder what we should be doing differently. We want to help. We want to make things better. And sometimes that desire to help can leave us carrying more than we were ever meant to carry.
When you’re reflecting on things, it’s easy to worry about whether you’re missing something about your child and their education. Or maybe you’re feeling a little guilt about what you may or may not have noticed sooner. When either of those thoughts creep in, hold some space for them, possibly write them down, and then save them for a discussion with someone later.
Maybe some of the pieces are falling into place now because you’re beginning to see your child’s needs in a different way. That doesn’t mean you missed everything before. It may simply mean that you have new information and a better understanding of what your child needs right now.
Mom, I see that you're carrying a lot. You matter in this picture, too.
The Pressure to Fix Everything
You may be feeling as though you have to “fix” everything. You may find yourself asking: What am I missing?
What should I be doing differently?
Why can’t I figure this out?
What if I don’t do enough?
Comparison
You may also find yourself comparing what your child is going through to other students in your child’s class. Or maybe you compare your child to his or her siblings. You may even find yourself comparing your own parenting to another mom’s parenting.
If you do, that’s okay. You’re processing, and this is part of your reflection. It may even be something you want to talk through with someone you trust.
Comparison can quietly shift the question from:
“What does my child need?”
to:
“Why isn’t my child like that?”
And that can make an already difficult season feel even heavier.
Your child doesn’t have to learn, grow, or move through school in the same way as another child. And you also don’t have to parent the same way your best friend or sister parents her children.
Remember that your child is not a problem you have to solve You can support your child.
You can ask questions.
You can gather information.
You can seek help.
You can make changes at home.
You can make changes at home.
Supporting your child means walking alongside them, not making sure you can prevent every struggle or find an answer for every difficult day.
But you don't have to carry the belief that everything depends on you getting it right. Your child needs your support, but they don’t need you to have every answer. And you don’t have to walk through every question alone.
Sometimes supporting your child begins with giving yourself permission to pause, breathe, and remember that you are a mom who is learning, too.
Book a Discovery Call if you’re wondering how to support your child’s learning journey.
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