The best way for parents to go about acquiring a mind-set of self-reflective parenting will be different for different individuals. Some people will find that they are already very close to being the parent they are striving to be. Other people will find reading books or blog articles to be very helpful and some other people might benefit most by engaging in discussions on the internet.

A parenting program should focus on parent's attitudes to themselves, their children, and the relationships they are building with their children.

One of the most important goals to have may well be the goal to create the life you want without preventing other people from creating the life they want.

Somewhat paradoxically, parenting programs should focus on the behavior of the parents not the behavior of the children.

One of the premises of parenting might be that the job of parents is to teach their kids to get along without them.

Demonstrating faith and optimism in the child or adolescent's ability to work things out in their own time and in their own way can be very difficult but it is possible to do this while also offering assistance.

Attitudes of optimism, of "let them be", and of joy in watching and helping another life develop and blossom will help parents relish their parenting role and will provide the resilience necessary to navigate turbulent times.