You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.

The real questions for parents should be: "Are you engaged? Are you paying attention?" If so, plan to make lots of mistakes and bad decisions. Imperfect parenting moments turn into gifts as our children watch us try to figure out what went wrong and how we can do better next time. The mandate is not to be perfect and raise happy children. Perfection doesn't exist, and I've found what makes children happy doesn't always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults.

We cannot give our children what we don’t have.

When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver!

It's not about 'what can I accomplish?' but 'what do I want to accomplish?' Paradigm shift.

Through my research, I found that vulnerability is the glue that holds relationships together. It's the magic sauce.

Raising children who are hopeful and who have the courage to be vulnerable means stepping back and letting them experience disappointment, deal with conflict, learn how to assert themselves, and have the opportunity to fail. If we’re always following our children into the arena, hushing the critics, and assuring their victory, they’ll never learn that they have the ability to dare greatly on their own.