Parent's Corner
Ok, parents! Let's quit trying to act like there is a perfect parent or that we are one. There isn’t a perfect parent and you aren’t one either. So now that’s out of the way, let’s admit it: parenting is hard!
There’s a lot of advice out there, and tons of books, the reality is that there's no magic manual, no perfect formula, and no version of this where you won't get some of it wrong. But we can tap into resources that can make us think and learn along the way.
If you've had a rough morning, lost your patience, or spent the drive home replaying something you wish you'd said differently — take a breath. You're not failing. You're parenting. Give yourself the same grace you're trying to give your child.
As an educator, if I ask a room of 30 children in it to draw a penguin, and I gave them the same paper and drawing instruments, not a single illustration would look the same. Every child is unique, different, and sees penguins, and life, differently.
Same thing with a big child, what we call an adult or even a parent. We will see things differently than every other person on this earth.
But if you ask a room full of grown-ups about their favorite childhood memories, they almost never mention the perfect days.
Instead, they'll tell you about the sound of a parent's voice reading the same book night after night until it fell apart. The mishaps that happened on a camping trip that everyone still laughs about. The smell of breakfast on a Saturday morning, cookies cooling on the counter, or freshly baked cinnamon rolls. They’ll recall an afternoon spent playing outside with no real plan. A walk around the block that
turned into a conversation neither of you expected. Those small, ordinary moments are the ones that last a lifetime — and they don't require getting everything right.
Whether you realize it or not, you're your child's very first teacher. Every story you read together, every question you answer (or admit you don't know the answer to), every moment of curiosity you make room for — it's shaping how they see the world.
That's what this page is here for. You'll find tips, ideas, and simple ways to spend time together, help your child grow into a more confident reader, and see the world as a place worth exploring. Nothing complicated — just small things that add up to the kind of memories your child will carry with them for the rest of their life.
You may be doing better than you think. And if you want to build something very special with your child, take a breath, slow down, and simply read a book, play a game, or listen to them with your undivided attention.
You may find it ends up being a happy memory for both of you.
Links:
Free parent stuff to do with your child.
Free resources for you as a parent (to educate you).
Books that may help you express love to your child.