You Are the Best Parent Just the Way You Are : Children’s Adaptability

Every Anxious Parent

Are you sometimes worried about your weakness in parenthood? Each parent has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. You may find that you struggle with certain aspects of parenting, whether it's managing emotions or dealing with your child's needs. It’s critical to understand that even if you exhibit absolute weaknesses, you are not alone. Emotions can fluctuate and moods can change, affecting how we interact with our children.

Pleasant Miscalculation

As a parent, I’ve never raised my voice at my daughter, but I now realize that I still created moments that made her uncomfortable. If you’ve ever felt the same way, you’ll understand how regret can creep in when we realize that our words or actions might have unintentionally affected our child’s happiness. Just recently, I apologized to my daughter for some things in the past. In response, she shared an interesting story about a colleague at work who’s known for having a pretty tough personality. Despite this challenge, she managed to engage in a light-hearted conversation with her, which astonished those around her.

Communication Skills for the Win

When her coworkers noticed how joyfully my daughter interacted with the difficult colleague, they inquired, 'Why are you able to talk to her so easily?' My daughter simply replied, 'It was nothing. She is nice.' This response underscored the importance of the communication skills she had developed over time, partly due to my problematical parenting.

In Japan, there’s a saying: ‘瓢箪から駒’ (hyōtan kara koma), which literally means ‘a horse out of a gourd.’ It expresses the idea that unexpected or surprising things can happen. Despite our perceived weaknesses, these moments shape our children into adaptable individuals capable of handling difficult situations. Ultimately, every challenge has its pros and cons.

So, fellow parents, let go of worries. Enjoy the unique experiences that come with parenthood. Your role in nurturing communication skills, even amidst the challenges, will prepare your children for future encounters in life. The goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to keep moving forward with love and trust in yourself as a parent.