My Messy Journey to Parent Hero Stuff
Was reading this headline floating around my phone feed – “how can parents be heros become one with this easy guide”. Sounded nice, right? Felt kinda pumped. Figured, why not try it? Thursday afternoon, kids bouncing off the walls after school. Perfect time for heroics, I guess.
First thing the guide mentioned? Stop multitasking. Yeah, okay. Big ask for me. But I gave it a shot. Sat my butt down next to my youngest, building Lego. Ignored my vibrating phone buzzing on the couch. Ignored the laundry pile staring at me. Focused just on clicking those little bricks together. Felt weird at first. Almost itchy, like I gotta jump up and check emails do something. But… kept sitting. Listened to her chatter about the spaceship we were making. Actually heard her. Wild.
Guide step two popped up: Predict the meltdowns. Said most parent tantrums come from kids feeling hungry, tired, or ignored. Made sense. Yesterday? Grocery store meltdown city. Kid screaming, me sweating, everyone looking. Realized later she skipped snack. My fault. So today, before heading out for shoes? Stuffed pockets with raisins and dry cereal. Pre-emptive snack strike. Got shoes. No tears. Felt like I hacked the system. Small win.
Next part was Talk less, hug more. Pfft. I talk. A lot. “Pick that up!”, “Brush your teeth!”, “Stop poking your sister!”. Nag nag nag. Decided to try the quiet thing. Son came home grumpy after practice. Face like thunder. Instead of asking 20 questions about why? Just… opened my arms. Didn’t say a word. He grunted but shuffled into the hug. Stood there like a minute. Then he mumbled about some kid messing up drills. Didn’t need a lecture. Just needed the hug. Okay, guide. Point for you.
Then came the “hero moment” part. Guide promised everyday stuff counted. Be present. Be prepared. Be patient. Fine. Dinner. Trying cook and listen to homework simultaneously – classic fail zone. Remembered Step 1 (no multitasking!). Told my daughter, “Hold that story till table, I gotta not burn the chicken.” Set timer. Five dedicated minutes flipping food. Timer beeps. Turn burner low. Sat. “Okay, tell me about the project.” Saw her eyes light up cause I was actually listening this time. No burnt chicken. Kids eating without complaining (for once!). Felt… weirdly calm. Almost heroic? Maybe just less frazzled.
So, did I become some cape-wearing superhero parent? Nah. Still yelled when they tracked mud on clean floor. Still forgot dentist appointments. Still felt stupid sometimes. But following that guide? Made me pay attention. Made me try different stuff. Instead of just reacting like crazy person all day. Found moments being really there, not just physically around. Prepared for hangry monsters. Offered quiet hugs instead loud nagging. Small changes. Tiny bits of sanity. Felt like I leveled up my boring parent grind. Still learning, but yeah. Feels kinda like stumbling towards hero territory. Tadaa~~
