“It’s About Progress - Not Perfection” - Lifetime Fitness

I was running on the treadmill at Lifetime Fitness when a quote popped up that said “It’s about progress - Not perfection.” For me, this quote is a great reminder that it is not reaching perfection that makes us good parents or good people. It is the journey towards self-awareness, exploration, and improvement that matters. We should not be overly focused on doing it “right” all of the time because, frankly, that is just not possible. We all make mistakes and that is okay. It is actually beneficial to model for our children what to do when a mistake happens. We all need to do a better job of acknowledging and accepting our mistakes and doing what is needed to fix the situation rather than merely focusing on the infraction and not making any attempt to “make it right.”

Consider the concept of the growth mindset. Our children are learning that it is not only okay but beneficial to make mistakes. Making mistakes makes our brain stretch, which in turn, helps us learn. The growth mindset encourages practice, hard work, and persistence to develop abilities. Doesn’t the growth mindset apply to being a parent too? Shouldn’t we be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them without feeling bad about it for days? 

We should strive to be the best parent we can be (as opposed to being the perfect parent). This requires us to check in with ourselves and our children to be sure we are supporting our kids in a way that is right for them. We need to pay attention, listen, and talk to our children often. At times, it is also helpful for us to talk to parents or experts in order to gain a fresh perspective or a new approach to a parenting challenge.  

Perfection is too much to ask of our children and too much to ask of us. Instead, let’s commit ourselves to ongoing learning as parents and to support one another in our efforts to raise happy, healthy, and resilient children.



Everybody Loves Routines

Don’t we all crave predictability? When we know what is happening and what is expected of us, there is less stress and anxiety. Worrying and self-doubt often happen when we are not quite sure what is going to happen next and when. The not knowing is what can cause a downward spiral in our thoughts and behavior, lead to significant stress, and result in pain, fatigue, and illness. While we cannot always know next steps or anticipate outcomes, we can arrange the known variables in our life in such a way that we can relax and live each day to its fullest.  One way to accomplish this is to establish daily routines that can create a sense of stability even if there are unknowns in our life. Children and young adults particularly thrive when they can follow daily routines that remain more or less the same.

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“You Had Me at Hello”

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Target Audience: Teachers, School Professionals, Behavior Analysts

Remember that famous line from Jerry Macguire - “You had me at hello.”? Isn’t it so true - that just “hello” can facilitate positive feelings towards the person and perhaps the situation? Consider how you feel when you enter a retail store and a sales person walks up to you and says, “Hello. How can I help you?” Doesn’t that make you feel welcomed and aren’t you more likely to ask for help and to ultimately buy something?

Remember the A in ABC

Target Audience: Behavior Analysts

Behavior analysts working in public schools are faced with complex cases that require extensive behaviors plans with multiple interventions. The problem is that these plans can be overwhelming for teachers and staff who do not have the time or resources to do what is being asked of them. Consider that providing praise may be more difficult initially for staff who have been frustrated by noncompliance and other unwanted behaviors.