PARENTING AS A WORKING MOTHER

Parenting is a big challenge. One question I’m often asked is how I managed being a mother and having a surgical career at the same time. The truth is I didn’t over think it at the time. When you have to, you find solutions. The hardest part of being a parent is remembering that it is not about you. It is about enabling your children to grow into independent, free thinking adults who understand the process of choice and consequence so they can accept responsibility, handle the outcomes of both good and poor choices, deal what life hands them and make the most of it.

Now, as a mother of adult children, I can look back to what worked and ask for feedback from them. Based on this, here are a few tips:

• Don't underestimate kids

• Be present

• Outsource

• Don’t sweat the small stuff

• Teach them to think rather than say “No”

These may not work for everyone. Goodness knows there were parenting ideals I didn’t deliver on well, but I have a great mother-child relationship with both my children. They are independent and have tools to work out their own life plans with the focus on thriving rather than success. I am truly a blessed parent.