Mom's Diary #3: Who Are You as a Parent? Defining Your Own Path

Between outside pressures, your own inner voice, and even the echoes of your own parents’ words, you quickly realize that you can’t have it all—or at least, not all at once.

That’s why taking the time to reflect on what kind of parent you want to be can be a powerful tool in keeping yourself on track. And when I say "parent," I don’t just mean moms and dads. This applies to stepparents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles—anyone who plays a meaningful role in a child’s life. Defining how you want to show up for them is key to fostering strong relationships and a fulfilling parenting journey.

Clarity Over Perfection

Many parents I speak to express a constant feeling of not enough—not doing enough, not achieving enough, not balancing enough.Others feel they’re stretching themselves too thin, trying to be everything at once. But how can we measure our progress if we’ve never defined where we’re trying to go?

So, let’s pause and ask ourselves some real questions:

• What kind of parent do I want     to be?
• What are my key values?
• What are my top priorities?
• Do I want to work full-time or stay at home?
• Will I send my child to daycare, kindergarten, or explore private playgroups?
• Do I see homeschooling, public school, or private school as the best fit?
• How do I model life balance for my children?
• Will I prioritize fitness, self-care, or shared activities with them?
• How active of a social life do I want to maintain?

It’s easy to get caught up in what we should do or what others expect from us. But at the end of the day, no oneelse is living your life—youare. The clearer you areabout your personal values and priorities, the more intentional you can be increating a life that aligns with them.

You Can’t Have It All (Or Maybe You Can?)

The truth is, parenting requires choices, sacrifices, and constantadjustments. If you’ve found a way to have it all—please, share your secrets with the rest ofus! But in most cases, wehave to prioritize based on our life circumstances, our children’s ages, andour own evolving needs.

And that’s exactly why this isn’t a one-time exercise. Who you areas a parent will shift over time. Life changes, kids grow, and what worked last year may no longerserve your family today. That’s why it’s valuable to revisit this reflectionregularly—to check in with yourself and make intentional adjustments as needed.

A Simple Exercise to Guide You

Take a few quiet moments today to reflect on these questions:

• What matters most to me in parenting?
• What areas of my life feel out of balance?
• Is the way I’m parenting aligned with my core values?

No judgment, no guilt—just an honest check-in with yourself. Becauseparenting isn’t about perfection, it’s about conscious choices and growing alongside our children.

I’d love to hear from you—have you ever done this type of reflection before? What hashelped you find clarity in your parenting journey?

With warmth,

Luna

P.S. If you want more to start this conversation with yourself, grab my free (andshort) worksheet about this topic here and take the first step to becoming the parent you want to be.

Get your freebie here

P.P.S. if you are ready to dip your toe already, then checkout our upcoming parenting circles here and use code Neworn25 to receive a 20%discount. https://www.moonlightparenting.com/book-online

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