Parents Who Write logo

Daily Progress

Progress is not linear

Progress is not linear. Some days I knock this parenting and living gig out of the park: I have an abundance of patience, remember to take care of my needs too, say all the right things to help my kids process their big feelings, model kinder and gentler responses, and have fun.

Other days, I cannot free myself from feeling overwhelmed, my parenting tools and scripts escape me in the heat of the moment, and I cannot seem to do or say anything right.

Afterward, I try to figure out what lessons I've learned, why my kids were having a hard time, and how I can reset my frame of mind and fill up my own emotional cup so I can be more available for them. That self-reflection is still progress, even though it’s not linear.

Here I share my daily struggles, victories, reflections, and more. Rather than long, thought out articles, this space is more like a journal as I keep moving forward.

From My Journal

'}}
Intentional Efforts to Focus on What’s Going Well
This journaling prompt showed me just how much the human brain is hardwired to focus on the negative and thus how much I have to redirect my thoughts toward the positive.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
How One Evening with Friends Made Me Feel 15 Years Younger
Day 1 of my 30-day journaling challenge reminded me of this recent fun evening with friends, which rejuvenated my soul and enabled me to revisit past-Erin.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
One Way to Find the Love Even in Those Imperfect Holiday Moments
During my holiday journaling challenge week, a prompt had us explore recent holiday moments with our kids. Learn about what I discovered about an imperfect holiday moment.
'}}
A State of Mind: When Tension Liquifies Like Melted Butter
Self-care isn't an activity; it's a state of mind. Learn how I unexpectedly remembered this lesson at the last minute of a rather hectic morning.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
First Day of School: So Many Big Feelings Watching My 1st Grader
My 6-year-old was crazy excited about this first day of school. We all needed this, despite the fear and anxiety we still carry.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
A Horrible Week of Fighting a Family-Wide Stomach Bug
Our whole family has been fighting a stomach bug. Worse, my 3-year-old spent more than a week being sick, and my heart is tired.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
A Passing Glance of the Father Who Disowned Me
I saw my dad again, the one who disowned me and erased my childhood. My parents asked to see my kids. Learn what happened.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
Can Hair Ties Help Me Stop Being a Critical Parent?
I tried using hair ties as visual cues to help myself stop being a critical parent. Find out how my first week went and the results for both me and my children.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
From Fighting to Cooperating: How I Made a Horrible Morning Better
This morning, I had two cranky, tired, hungry, overwhelmed kids. Every time they raged, somehow I managed to calm the storms and make a horrible morning better.

Posted in Daily Progress

'}}
Evidence of sibling love between my two boys
My day started with a parenting win in the form of sibling love: My 6-year-old found a way to make his little brother feel special.

Posted in Daily Progress

Daily progress as shared on LBP's Facebook page

Get your free guide

We all deserve a safe space where we can return to being just ourself. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Use this personal guide to help you

  • make time for yourself,
  • identify what to write about, and
  • get started writing without your inner judge silencing you.
GET YOUR GUIDE