I am frequently reminded how lucky I am as a parent to also be an educator. Teaching is tough, of course, but you enter the profession trained, prepared, and supported. You’re also required to keep learning throughout your career. I’ve used that ongoing learning to follow my passion for Additional Support Needs. As a result I’ve read, researched, observed, and experienced a great deal in this field. This has given me the confidence to support other educators and parents as they navigate the needs of their children. It has also informed much of my own parenting over the years – so much so that I sometimes forget that not all parents have this level of insight.
Parenting is even tougher than teaching. The stakes are higher, the hours are longer, and the pay is definitely worse. We love our children fiercely, and parenting can be a joy and a privilege — but it can also be overwhelming. Perhaps we can never be fully prepared for everything being a parent involves, but I am certain that more support and knowledge would help.
Recently, I was asked to adapt a presentation I usually deliver to teachers into a session for parents. Much of what I shared would have been common knowledge to most class teachers, more of a reminder to be consistent in their approaches, with a bit of psychology thrown in. It was apparent though, that the majority of what I was talking about was new to the parents. The session went well and they left with a deeper understanding of their children and practical approaches to try at home. But I left with a nagging feeling: all parents deserve access to this kind of understanding.
During pregnancy, most parents attend antenatal classes. They cover important topics like birth and breastfeeding… and that’s often where the support ends. It’s a bit like offering someone driving lessons but only teaching them how to turn on the ignition. Yes, those first steps matter — but there’s a whole lifetime of “next steps” ahead.
And surely all parents deserve access to the information that helps them support that lifetime with confidence.
This is what motivates me to want to continue expanding my coaching support for parents. Get in touch if you’d like to explore how coaching could help you understand your children and how to support them, rediscover your confidence as a parent, and move forward with clarity. I’m here to support you. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start.