| Many parents may not be aware of what it takes to | | | | Lack of know-how is another challenge facing |
| be an intentional parent. Of course, parenting is an | | | | parents. Parents will often be at a loss to visualize |
| ongoing process that teaches parents new things | | | | what intentional parenting looks and feels like, and |
| each day and leaves much more that needs to be | | | | what it all about is. This means that parents' lack a |
| learnt before they become a good parent. With their | | | | plan of action and it can be compared to driving in a |
| busy schedules, it is hard enough for them to be a | | | | foreign country without a map for guidance. To get |
| good parent and intentional parenting may seem quite | | | | over this shortcoming, parents need to read, |
| daunting and unattainable at first. | | | | research, and utilize resources to get started on the |
| Not Necessarily Perfect Parenting | | | | road to intentional parenting. It may even necessitate |
| Intentional parenting may not be perfect parenting; | | | | changing their strategy and approach towards the |
| instead, it refers to a parent that has mentally | | | | child. |
| determined that some action or result related to | | | | After developing the vision and plan of action, there |
| parenting need to be performed. In other words, the | | | | is still the task of implementing the intentional |
| intentional parent is an "on purpose" parent. Parents | | | | parenting concept. Being accountable is a good first |
| often tend to react to their children rather than have | | | | step in this direction because when the parent |
| a plan that they have prepared in advance. This is a | | | | deviates from the path of intentional parenting and |
| tendency that parents readily acknowledge, but do | | | | may be slipping, accountability will enable the parent |
| little about. | | | | to get back on course and escape the mistake of |
| Some reasons that contribute to intentional parenting | | | | falling out of habit. |
| being difficult to achieve are vision, know-how and | | | | With all these well meaning thoughts and ideas in |
| accountability. Furthermore, the biggest obstacle to | | | | place, it only remains to act with energy and time |
| intentional parenting begins in the mind - there may | | | | which, for busy parents, seems to be always in short |
| not be enough time for contemplating what hangs in | | | | supply. Nevertheless, with courage one can become a |
| the balance. In other words, parents often fail to | | | | good parent. Every parent should be able to muster |
| realize what can be gained and what is lost if they do | | | | up enough courage and take the intentional parenting |
| not invest in their children through intentional | | | | path, to achieve betterment of both child and parent. |
| parenting. | | | | |