As many of you are aware, I am in the process of creating this new website for my coaching practice. I want to more effectively reach people who can benefit from my knowledge, skills and experience in parenting.  As part of this process I am having some videos shot for the site, one of which will go on my home page, so be on the look out for this!!  The point, however, is this—I am experiencing a discomfort, a pure lack of confidence in myself when the camera is turned towards me. What is that? I am wondering how I can have so much confidence when it comes to speaking to people in person, whether it be a a large group or a new client, and then simply lose my tongue when I am sitting in front of the camera.

As I pondered this, I realized that many of the parents I work with lack the confidence they need to do the tough job of parenting. Insecurity sets in, will I do the wrong thing, say the wrong words, be too harsh, not harsh enough, will my child like me, what if my child hates me? When parents come to me with these concerns I ask them if they are acting within their parenting integrity. If the answer is yes, we move forward to boost their confidence by role playing or looking a little more deeply at what they want from their children, and affirm that their requests are reasonable. Then I encourage them to go forth with greater confidence,  knowing that they are doing the right thing for their child.

Confidence is something we all have. Most of us need to work on developing it in different aspects of our lives, but we all have it. When you sense that you are experiencing a lack of confidence about your parenting, I want to challenge you to ask yourself a few basic questions. Am I making this decision with my child’s best interests in mind? Am I being true to myself and to my child? If nothing could go wrong, would I make the same decision again? As you become more clear and focused on what it is you are trying to achieve you will experience the confidence you are looking for.

As I have followed my own advice, I am finding that my vision is clear. I know what I want to accomplish with my little videos, and I will go confidently in front of the camera and share my confidence with the world!

~Marni