Life is not easy. Parenting is even more difficult. So what does getting 'real' mean? It's being honest about the guilt, inadequacy and judgment felt by parents all over. It's hard to get 'real' about how we feel, but when we do, it’s easier to see that we are not alone in our struggles. It's okay to admit we are not perfect; that we are, in fact, full of error. By doing this, our guilt, inadequacy and judgment can be shed.
It's Okay: Let's Get Real About This Thing We Call Parenting is a compilation of a 100 stories shared by over 40 contributors. These stories are real. They are honest. And ... some of them are quite funny. This book is intended to make readers see that sometimes life is not all roses. We will at times mess-up. We will at times fail. In the end, though, most things turn out okay!
Many brave souls contributed the stories shared throughout the book. These stories reveal our most human moments as parents; they range from vulnerable to joyful and everything in between. These are stories that often go untold and stories that took courage to share. In reading about these parenting moments you will be provided some reassurance that you are definitely NOT alone in your parenting journey. You will also be provided some peace over difficult times you’ve had in the past or struggles lurking in your future. Be prepared to laugh, cry, commiserate and empathize with your fellow parents!
While this book is focused on the journey of parenting, the concepts within can be applied to the basic ‘life’ journey we all live as well. Before the stories begin, there is a ‘Points to Ponder’ section that addresses areas in life that can be most difficult: feeling judged, comparing yourself to others, living in regret, wishing for something better, understanding a life with balance, etc.
It's Okay: Let's Get Real About This Thing We Call Parenting is not meant to be a 'how to' guide. It does not offer answers for how to fix the world's great challenge of parenting. Rather, it offers affirmation for the perplexing job parents do daily. It mocks the idea that there is a perfect way to live your life, raise your kids or fix every issue under the sun. We all have issues. We all struggle. It's more about the idea that people will take their issues and struggles and share them. Learn from them. Be better because of them.
One of the editors of this book referred to the revealed content as, "booze for the self-conscience." While it is not okay to abuse drugs or alcohol, neglect or physically abuse your children, or purposefully do harm to others—it is okay to have a bad day. It is okay to admit to failure and that you can do better. Those things are all okay!
By reading this book, you will quit beating yourself up for the minor set-backs that challenge you daily. You will see that you are not alone in your struggles. You, too, will be convinced that 'It's Okay'. Plus, you will get a great chuckle along the way.
It's Okay.
It's Okay: Let's Get Real About This Thing We Call Parenting is my first book. Before writing this book I was in the field of education. I spent four years teaching first grade and then seven years as an elementary counselor. This past year, I was on a leave of absence from the education field when I authored this book.
My leave of absence was prompted by a constant feeling of guilt. I have four children; ages eight, six, four and one. It was terribly difficult to find time to spend with them, as well as offer myself completely to my job. I loved my job and was good at my job, but seemed to be failing at my other job as a mother. While this probably wasn't truly the case, it was how I felt.
I chose to write this book to help others understand the emotions that challenge me daily, but that I believe, challenge every parent on earth. The process of writing this book has been an amazing journey. A journey so great that I decided to resign from the school district I was currently on leave with. This decision was not an easy one to make, but one that I felt was best for me and for my family.
I do not want to leave my 'authoring' efforts with just one book. My hope is to write a series of 'It's Okay' books; addressing topics such as marriage, getting old, yet another parenting book and many more.
To learn more, visit www.itsokaybooks.com.
