Gentle Parenting Month Twelve

I hope you have enjoyed and have benefited from your journey toward Gentle Parenting during the twelve months we have concentrated on doing so. September completes the 12 steps. This month we celebrate!

I couldn’t say it any better than L.R. Knost:  “Celebrate! ~ Take time this month to give yourself a pat on the back for working toward your goal of becoming a gentle parent.  Congratulate yourself for all that you’ve accomplished and take stock of your successes as well as your failures.

“Don’t focus on your mistakes.  Simply learn from them, forgive yourself, and move forward.  Look back at where you were as a parent a year ago and compare that to where you are now.  Don’t worry if you haven’t come as far as you’d like. Life is for living and learning and growing, and another year is about to start with a chance to move forward into a new beginning.

“Everything you’ve invested in your children in the last year has been worthwhile, and everything you’ll invest in the coming years will build on the foundation you’ve begun. So take this month to celebrate you and to enjoy the return on your investment!”

Ms. Knost continues: “Do you see a theme throughout this gentle parenting ’12-step program’?  Getting to know and enjoy your children as individuals, intentionally focusing on building and maintaining a strong healthy parent/child connection, and living what you want children to learn are the bedrocks of gentle parenting.

“Walking through these steps, revisiting them when you find yourself struggling, and appreciating the incredible, miraculous gifts that each individual child brings into the world will keep you growing as a gentle parent day after day, month after month, year after year.  Live. Laugh. Love. Enjoy!”

Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages by L.R. Knost is available through Amazon.

Never forget that you have an ever-present help as you parent your children. Jesus will walk with you when you give Him a chance. Pray often as you learn and grow along with your children.

You need not wait until January to begin your efforts at Gentle Parenting if you didn’t begin with my information a year ago. And nowhere does it say you must complete your 12 steps in exactly a year.

Best wishes in your efforts at being the best parent you can be. I’ll be lifting you in prayer as you move forward.  God bless. Happy parenting!