Gold medal parenting

Would you consider Michael Phelps to be any less of a champion because he had a coach? Would you think that in some way he was a failure, or that he wasn’t a good enough swimmer since he couldn’t do it on his own without relying on a coach? Most of us would probably answer "no—of course not." Professional athletes and business CEOs have coaches and someone guiding them because they strive to go from good to great. They want to make themselves even better, and they look for help to do so. 

So when a parent is looking to get support for themselves or their child, why is it that they often feel shame over "needing" help and consider themselves to be a failure?

Instead of that mindset, I invite you to think of this a different way. Just like an Olympic athlete wouldn’t expect to get gold medals all on his or her own, a parent shouldn’t be expected to handle all of the difficulties and stressors that come with raising a teenager on their own. What if we saw seeking help, support, and coaching as things that will make someone a better parent rather than as a sign of their failure? What if we saw it as gold medal parenting?

So this week, I invite you to reach out for support or help. This can befrom a friend, a mentor, a teacher, a colleague, or myself.  Like Phelps said in the foreword of his coach’s book, “Without Bob, I have no shot at achieving the records I’ve achieved or winning the medals that I’ve won.” I invite you to find someone who will lift you toward those parenting medals!

Here's to your gold medal parenting,
Shandra