I didn’t exactly grow up with the best example of parenting. Looking
back, some of the approaches I saw, and sometimes felt were not what I’d
want to pass down to my kids. That’s the tricky part: when you’ve
experienced the “bad side” of parenting, it’s easy to let those habits
sneak into how you raise your own children without even realizing it.

There are moments in parenting that feel like slow motion. You’re
sitting on the floor (or more realistically, half-slouched on the
couch), eyes tracing your kid’s movement across the room. They’re deep
in play, doing something that doesn’t need your help. You’re there, technically, but also not entirely there. Because, let’s be honest, it gets boring sometimes.

You walk in with a list, a budget, and fragile optimism. Ten minutes later, your Fitbit thinks you’re doing sprints past the produce, your preschooler is negotiating for cookies like a tiny lawyer, and your baby is making noises only dogs can hear. You reach the checkout—almost next—when the youngest decides now is the perfect time to practice opera.