What parents do right

In response to the endless stream of critical parenting articles published and pressed on us week after week, my friend Emily has asked fellow bloggers to find ways to celebrate our own parenting successes. I struggle with tooting my own horn, so I'm taking a slightly different tack. Here are the great things I've witness other parents doing that inspire me to be a better mom ...

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For starters, my own mom and dad -- they always knew how to balance love and protection while gently nudging my brother and me toward greater independence and self-sufficiency. They trusted us to do what was right and helped us fix our failures. They were listeners, but never needless worriers.

My brother is tender and compassionate with his boys, without making a big deal about it. He spends time with them and listens to them. His wife (my sister-in-law) is as involved and hands-on as she can be as a parent, but knows where to step back and let her kids grow a little. And the two of them know how to have fun with their kids.

My friend Becci is a fierce advocate for her girls. She listens to them. She seeks structure for them, but I've seen her drastically change course when something isn't working for them. She is devoted and loving always.

My friend Nicole and her husband, Michael, are the epitome of a team when it comes to parenting their little boy. She is the primary wage-earner and he is the stay-at-home parent. They both work hard, split household duties and still manage to find time to be together as a family.

My friend Sarah knows how to manage a household like no one else I know. She is raising three young boys, mostly on her own during some intense chunks of time while her husband works lengthy deployments with the Navy. Sarah can handle a busy schedule, keep a bright, tidy home, be present with her boys and manage to feed her own need for time away.

My friend Bethany prays for her children. She knows God has plans for them and she lets every day open up for those plans to take hold in her girls. She brings energy and enthusiasm to even the most mundane tasks (like scrubbing baseboards) and doesn't waste time on lamenting the grit of motherhood.

My friend Kirsten knows her kids -- all four of them -- inside and out. She can present the essence of each of them in just a paragraph. With three school schedules, music lessons and sports, hers is a tricky juggling act, for sure, but she also knows the value of keeping everyone at home on the weekends for reconnecting as a family.

My friend Kathryn is a thoughtful parent. When mothering struggles leave her not knowing what to do, she looks for a solution. She is a fierce information-gatherer, resource-finder and solution-getter. And she's also not afraid to say she doesn't know the answer, and trust that loving her children and trying her hardest is enough at the end of the day.

Emily is the best story-teller and architect of imaginative play, Amie will let the backyard play structure become a library all in the name of a good project, Julie is valiant yet humble.

And then there's my husband. I could spin mushy, disgusting paragraphs about Nick and what a great dad he is, but I will spare you ... today.

Instead, I'll focus on one thing I've always admired about his work ethic. He is devoted to his professional life, no doubt, but the man knows how to compartmentalize. I have seldom seen work issues affect his thoughts and time at home. When he steps through our front door, no matter what happened during his work day, he plunges completely into family time in our home and our kids always know he's available to them. Awesome!

And I? Well, I find that surrounding myself with good parenting examples gives me new heights to strive for and ideas to try when things aren't going well. I also find these folks to be great at encouraging me on this journey, and isn't that what we all should be doing for each other?

Thanks for reminding us to take time for this, Emily!