can we raise independent, autonomous children if we ourselves aren’t
independent and autonomous? How can we raise another human being,
another spirit, if our own being has been largely dismissed, our spirit
systematically squelched?
It may be helpful for me to share with you some of the areas in which I
am learning to accept myself:
I accept I am a human being before I am a parent
I accept I have limitations and many shortcomings, and this is okay
I accept I don’t always know the right way
I accept I am often ashamed to admit my own failings I accept I
frequently lose my center worse than my child ever does
I accept I can be selfish and unthinking in my dealings with my child
I accept I sometimes fumble and stumble as a parent
I accept I don’t always know how to respond to my child I accept that
at times I say and do the wrong thing with my child
I accept that at times I’m too tired to be sane
I accept that at times I’m too preoccupied to be present for my child
I accept I am trying my best, and that this is good enough
I accept my imperfections and my imperfect life I accept my desire
for power and control