The Most Powerful Leadership Position of All: Parenthood

A friend's daughter posted a link to this Huffington Post article on Facebook and I knew I had to write about it. It's called The Sweet Spot by Julianna Miner.

So many memories came to mind as I read it, a sweeter spot for me as it's my mother's 85th birthday today. And when I say 85, that's 85 years young. I do want to be her when I grow up. 

The article brought smiles and tears...memories of when my son was young. We did so much together back then. We were closer than close. When he moved out to go away to school my friends and family were worried that it would be really hard for me. Then puzzled because it wasn't. When they asked me to tell them the truth about how I felt, my answer was a simple one. "He is exactly where he should be...finding his life and his way within it." He has and so have I.


Last night we were on a call with him and his wife, both sides on speaker phone so we could all hear and discuss what we were going to do for my mom's birthday. Of course we got off topic and joked, teased and laughed. It was the greatest conference call I ever had. 

Which got me thinking...the most important leadership job we could take on is parenting. Our kids watch what we do more than pay attention to what we say. My mother can attest to that. She always told me I would look at her intently when she told me something and then would do what I wanted. I'm grinning now just thinking about it.  The thing is, my parents taught me what I needed to know so I could make decisions. They enabled me every step of the way and when they didn't understand something, they looked at it from my perspective and then supported me in trying it out.

Is it any wonder I do what I do? 

I am in my sweet spot being surrounded by amazing people. And as we all grow through life, I know I have to pay attention to how it all comes together; work, home, learning, experiencing, and how I share it all. And tomorrow, when we celebrate my mother's birthday, I think I'd love to sit around and share stories, memories, wishes and dreams and then figure out how to make them happen.

As Julianna says "If raising children is like baseball or swimming, getting it right must be a cocktail of luck, faith, and showing up every day to do the work. And of course, never quitting (even when it all seems like a hopeless goat rodeo). And if you do it well, they won't just leave you. When they go, they will soar away. And all you can hope is that you set them up TO BE COMPLETELY AWESOME."

Thanks for the reminder, Julianna!