Amanda Lamb: Reflections on parenting for a new year

As 2019 draws to a close, it’s only natural to look back at the year and reflect on our successes and failures. Hopefully, the process leads to growth and better choices in 2020.

For most of us, a lot of reflection deals with our careers. Are we where thought we would be at this point in our lives? Are we engaged in our work? Are we making a tangible difference?

I would argue we can ask these same questions of our relationships, and more specifically of how we are measuring up as parents. Are we engaged? Are we making a tangible difference in our children’s lives? These are harder questions to answer. It’s easy for us to beat ourselves up when our reactions to situations don’t conform to our children’s world view.

What I’ve come to understand is that with all the seasons of parenting, there’s no road map for how to handle each individual situation. But there are two things children need that they can never have too much of—our love and our time. And this is in the face of, and sometimes in spite of, the storm that parenting can be.

So, in 2020, I pledge to show my unconditional love for my girls and put aside dedicated time for them. It will not make me a perfect parent in their eyes. In fact, they may not even notice. But I will recommit to this journey that started, for me, on Jan. 17, 2000, and has no end. No end, just like the infinite love we have for them ...