Andrew Mina

When I say your not alone, I don’t mean you literally aren’t alone, as your child or children are ever present (or at least it might feel that way). What I mean there is, without trying too hard you can find a community of parents close by who can help you navigate this parenting journey you’re on, if you want.

I am a parent and together with my wife we have have two children. A girl and a boy. I jest we are a sustainable family.

What I am not is a perfect parent, but what I aim is to be is learning parent. Especially since children don’t remain the same! They grow, change, go through development leaps, learn and are on a perpetual journey of their own to adulthood.

Where am I getting learning from?

I am learning from my own parents, my wife’s parents, from my siblings, from other parents older than me, those who are of similar age, and those who are younger than me and from those who don’t have children (regardless of the circumstance).

I am learn from professionals, from industry experts, medical professionals, and from what I gather from day-to-day life.

I am learning from social communities, like other parents at school, sports clubs, and our local Church.

I also must give mention that I learn a lot from colleagues! We spend a lot to time together and if you have both brought your whole-selves to work that will have included being a parent.

Even after all this, I know I am still not perfect but a learning parent.

Instead of telling children what to do, tell them who they are

Bob Goff (2018)

Books

On the parent journey there have been some of the books that have, and continue to, deeply influence our parenting. These include the following five:

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist (2016)

Loving Your Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk (2008)

Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne with Lisa M. Ross (2010)

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff (2012)

The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell (1997)

These books are listed here because I keep coming back to them, time and again. Rereading them, thinking about their principles, reviewing my parenting, but no means have I fully perfected their guidance and hope that my parenting does put you off them. Also, realising that my children are growing and constantly moving through development patterns, and coming back them them helps me understand how to parent in the next season they and I have entered.

What books have influenced your parenting journey?

Please let a comment below! I love to know and check them out.

I don’t want to get to the end of my life and look back and realize that the best thing about me was I was organized!

Shauna Niequist (2016)