Looking Back... What I Wish I Had Known in My First Year of Parenting

I was born in the mid 50’s the second oldest of 8 children. My father was a schoolteacher and my mother, whose college degree was in child development, put her education to work as a stay-at-home mom.

Having a father for a schoolteacher meant lovely, long summer vacations, with both parents, lots of family fun.

Growing up, besides at four wanting to be a ballerina, and eventually maybe a teacher, my dream career was to be a mom and provide my own children the same stable, happy, adventuresome childhood I had enjoyed.

I went to college to become a preschool teacher. married Larry, my late husband, and together over a span of 17 years our home was blessed with an even 5 girls and 5 boys.

I was lucky to teach preschool in my home for 15 years along with raising my own little ones Motherhood for me was a challenging, happy busy time of life, and I loved it!

UNTIL something went terribly wrong.

After 22 years of marriage, I joined the divorced, single working parent crowd. My oldest was just 21 and my youngest 5.

I share this with you only to let you know I have parenting, relationship, and kid experience on both sides of the fence.

Now as a grandmother, with most of my children married, grandchild #30 on the way, their father/grandfather decease, regrets still tempt me to be mad or sad and continually embarrassed about past relationship and parenting mistakes.

However, hindsight provides a much clearer picture of what was and wasn't happening.

I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on those statistics, how I became part of the 50% of marriages that end in divorce, and the difficult struggles my children experienced as a result of their parents' choices and circumstances.

Out of those reflections grew an idea I feel passionate to pursue.

Today, I am a grandmother on a mission to share with young parents the things I wish I had known and understood when I was raising my own babies—especially what I consider the critical facts and practices of a child's first years of life.

If there is one thing I wish I had understood sooner—but understand clearly now—it is the power of intentional connection. The small moments we share each day with our children, and our mates shape the strength of our families more than we often realize.

The 5-Minute Connection Method is a simple and effective approach to developing those daily habits, helping children grow into happy, capable, bright individuals while fostering the closeness and resilience that every marriage needs to thrive.