Parenthood is a rollercoaster. It’s filled with unexpected challenges coupled with unconditional love. These ups and downs and highs and lows can make even the most patient parents feel packed with too many bats in the belfry. So if you feel you’re struggling with parenthood, please know that you’re not alone. Every parent goes through it; myself included. I have two kids—12 and 14 years old. Like any parent, I love and adore my kids.

However, believe me when I say there are many difficulties that challenge me daily as a mother. But as a result of those difficulties, I’ve learned a few simple tips that have helped me to raise flourishing children. And here comes the good part: These tips are practical and, most importantly, effective. So keep reading to learn more!

1. Healthy Boundaries

Here’s the thing… Your kids don’t have to go to every single birthday party and they don’t have to say ‘yes’ to every request or invitation (this is good not only for your wallet but also for your mental health). I teach my kids the importance of saying ‘no.’ Moreover, I teach them that people who truly love and accept them will not expect them to come to every invite. This is a major part of self-care.

Why? Because when we feel like we need to satisfy other people’s needs more than our own, it creates a pattern of people pleasing. So establishing with your little ones that it’s okay to have healthy boundaries is essential for raising flourishing children. 

2. Structure and Discipline

On the surface, kids will kick and scream when you set guidelines in the form of structure and discipline. But on a deeper level, they want those “guardrails”—whether they realize it or not—as it makes them feel safe. Also, this type of structure is great for YOU as the parent. It gets your kids into healthy routines and practices that will serve them for the rest of their lives. 

Especially when my kids were younger, I set very strict guidelines:

• This is nap time
• This is breakfast time
• This is dinner time, etc.

I knew, intuitively, that if I didn’t create the structure when my kids were young, I’d pay the price for it when I got older. 

3. Don’t Try to Do it All

As a parent, I understand it’s tempting to try to be everything to your kids. You want to be their friend, their confidant, their counselor, their protector, their guardian, etc., all wrapped into one. And that ambition is admirable; however, it’s not realistic. Hear me out… You can’t do it all. I know it feels like you should be able to; I know it feels like you maybe even want to. But as amazing as you are, you can only be stretched so far before you reach a breaking point. 

For this reason, it’s important to know you have options that can help you thrive as a parent. This is where reaching out can be helpful. We all know the adage, “It takes a village.” And it’s so true; it really does take a community to raise healthy, happy, flourishing kids. 

So please don’t feel like you’re on your own. There are friends, family, coaches, therapists, support groups, and many other resources for you to lean on. Take advantage of them!

Final Thoughts

Kids deserve to thrive. They deserve to have a community where they feel safe, secure, valued, and appreciated. Once these needs are met in our little ones, the “flourishing” becomes a natural byproduct. And here at Certified Flourishing Coach, we want to help. Our team of coaches and facilitators are experts who work from an evidence-based system. 

Moreover, we offer authentic heart-centred support as we believe that everyone has the ability to flourish when they are surrounded by community. So if you’re ready to raise thriving children, then contact us today to learn more. 

About the Author

As the Director of Sales & Client Support for Certified Flourishing Coaching™, Cynthia is our support system when it comes to project management administration in the FCP Community and connecting people to resources which promote growth. She also has over two decades of experience working with people and supporting them in creating the most ideal results when it comes to complex situations, high performance, and conflict resolution.

When working with individuals and teams, Cynthia has the gift of understanding and meeting people where they are while moving through obstacles to obtain the main goals and objectives. By creating a safe environment, teams and businesses have been able to grow, expand and reach potentials never imagined before under her guidance and support.