I live and work in Lynn Valley. Every single parent I have spoken with talks about some version of trying to hold up spinning plates or juggling and trying not to drop any balls, and constantly feeling like a failure. Ordering Uber Eats every night of the week to get kids to activities on time. Parents who ‘focus on the kids’ getting divorced because there is no time for their relationship and they didn’t figure that out until there was too much hurt and resentment between them. Not having time for long sit down meals and quality connecting time because there are birthday parties, travel for work, PAC meetings, events to organize and attend, meet the teacher nights, extracurriculars, playdates. Parents who adored the pandemic because they no longer had to try to keep up. I have wondered for years now: is this our little bubble of Lynn Valley and North Vancouver or is this happening everywhere? Well, here is the answer.
Do you relate to this warning? What are your stressors (ie. if you have spinning plates or are juggling balls- or torches, which plates or balls/torches would you gladly drop)? Can you imagine what slow would look like? Do you want slower? Why? For what reason and based on what values? Are there things you wish you could do but are not doing? What is getting in the way of you living in these preferred ways?
What does it mean to be a good parent? What are the expectations of a good parent? Could these be factors leading us away from our values and preferred ways of living?
