Have you ever looked back on a parenting moment and thought, “What a jerk! I totally screwed that up.”
Probably. Regretting how you handled a situation with your kids kind of comes with the territory.
Maybe you screamed at them because you felt powerless in the moment and felt you had to regain control. Maybe they threw up all over your bed and the bathroom floor and instead of offering them compassion, you got angry at them because all you could see was the big, disgusting mess you had to clean up.
The relationship you have with your child is made up of the energy you give them and the reactions you have to various situations.
Awareness helps you recognize these situations for what they are instead of the judgements and emotions you assign them and respond appropriately to your children and what they need, be it open ears and a closed mouth, thoughtful guidance, or a warm embrace.
How do your children see you versus how you want them to see you? Do the views match up? If not, do a little self-discovery and see how these relationships change.