Happy Monday my fellow parents! As you all know I love being a parent and I love helping parents!!!! As parents, we often find ourselves stuck in routines that may not always serve our family’s best interests. That’s where a 40-Day Parenting Change Challenge comes in—a structured, yet flexible approach to making meaningful changes in how we parent. And today is the perfect day to start!
SOOOO, Why 40 Days?
Forty days is a significant period—it’s long enough to develop new habits, but short enough to feel achievable. In many traditions and religions, 40 days represents a period of transformation and renewal. By committing to a 40-day challenge, you’re giving yourself the time and space to focus on becoming the parent you want to be, one step at a time.
Here is How It Works
The beauty of the 40-Day Parenting Change Challenge is its simplicity. Each day, you commit to making one small change or the same small change in your parenting approach. These changes can be as straightforward or as complex as you choose, but the key is consistency and intentionality.
Here’s a basic framework to get started:
- Identify Areas for Growth: Begin by reflecting on areas of your parenting that could benefit from change. Do you want to be more patient with your toddler or school-age child? Are you looking to improve communication with your teen? Is there a need for better work-life balance? Choose one or two areas to focus on.
- Set Daily Intentions: Each day, set a specific intention or goal related to your focus areas. For example, if you’re working on communication, your intention might be to spend 10 minutes of undivided time talking with your child. If you want to be heard more by your child, consider taking those 10 minutes to play with their preferred game/toy. If patience is your goal, you might practice deep breathing before responding to a challenging situation.
- Track Your Progress: Keep a journal or checklist to document your daily intentions and reflections. Writing down your thoughts can help reinforce your commitment and give you insight into your progress. *I am not so good at this part.*
- Celebrate Small Wins: Change doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s okay. Celebrate the small victories along the way, whether it’s a moment of connection with your child or a day where you felt more in control of your emotions. *I count my wins daily- even the small ones.*
- Reflect and Adjust: At the end of each week, take some time to reflect on what’s working and what’s not. If a particular strategy isn’t resonating, don’t be afraid to adjust your approach. The goal is progress, not perfection!!!!
Why Take the Challenge?
By committing to a 40-day challenge, you’re taking an active role in shaping your parenting journey. You’re not only working to improve your relationship with your child but also modeling the importance of growth and self-improvement.
Pretty please know that this challenge is not about being the perfect parent—because there’s no such thing!!! It’s about being a present, intentional parent who is willing to make small changes that lead to big results.
So, why not give it a try? After all, 40 days is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the lifelong journey of parenting, but the impact of those days could last a lifetime.
Let me know what your goals are and how I can support you in these 40 days.
Xoxo,
Dr. Marnee