Not Too Shabby

Edmund Burke is attributed to say, "all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

With this in mind, the first step to being a good mother is striving to not be a bad one. Don't do nothing. Avoid pitfalls that you know are indicative of bad parenting. Don't ignore your child. Or belittle her. Or treat her as if she's a nuisance in your life. And if you think there's a problem, don't deny it.

There are times you may not be sure if what you are doing is good or bad - but the sheer fact that you question yourself will keep you on the "good side". Reflecting on your behavior is half the battle (or more). The "bad" parents are those who just do, without thinking. They go with what is best (or easiest) for themselves, without considering how their actions affect their children.

A friend of mine recently asked for advice on how to deal with some boys bullying her young son. Her clear and absolute support for her son, her interest in helping in the best possible way, and her reaching out to friends and family for their input was inspirational. I don't know what solution she chose, but for certain she was doing her best to make sure that "evil didn't triumph." She didn't do nothing.

Many of us struggle with solutions to various challenges our children pose in our lives. The least we can do is SOMEthing. Not nothing.