What is coaching and how does it help me?
Let’s be real—parenting is messy, hilarious, and at times, downright impossible to navigate. For every day you feel successful, there’s another five where you’re operating on no sleep, in high-stakes negotiating with tweenagers and Googling “toddler interested in toilet brush – normal?”
The old adage “it takes a village” is true for a reason. Even the most capable parent will feel like they’re losing their mind at some point, and we often don’t ask for help because we perceive it as a sign of weakness. But what if we see it as a sign of strength instead?
Coaching isn’t about fixing your children, or turning you into a Pinterest-perfect parent. It’s about helping you feel more grounded, confident, and to show up each day as the parent you want to be, even when things don’t go to plan.
So…What Is Coaching?
Think of your life like a cruise ship. You are the captain of your ship. You decide the direction, speed and route. The crew (your immediate family and close friends) play an important role, but don’t get to steer.
Other people are the passengers. Colleagues, extended family, acquaintances… they may be along for the ride, but they’re going to get off the cruise at some point.
Having a coach is like having a co-captain. They’re not in charge, but are an extra set of eyes and ears. They sit alongside you, and help you see your journey clearly.
Are those storm clouds up ahead? How’s the tide today? What’s going on with the crew? Is this still the right direction, or do we need to change course?
If you don’t have a co-captain, you’re still steering the ship. You’re still going to get to the destination.
But having a co-captain makes all of the challenges easier to navigate. You’re not at the wheel alone, and you’re probably going to get there quicker too.
Essentially, a coach is someone who’s here to help you grow as a parent but also as a person. Someone to help you find clarity, set goals, and feel genuinely good about the choices you make.
It’s not therapy or counselling. It’s more like a customised workout plan for your mind, emotions, and well-being. You get practical tools, honest feedback, and best of all, you’re not going it alone.
What Does Coaching Actually Look Like?
You sit down with your coach (over coffee or online) and dive into what you need. Whether it’s figuring out how to deal with toddler meltdowns without losing your cool, or just finding routines that work, your coach has got you covered.
You’ll start by clarifying your goals, and honing in on what matters to you (not what others think you should be doing). From there, you will start breaking those goals and big dreams into small actionable steps. Each session will have a focus, determined by you, based on how things are going at the time.
Your goals might change along the way, and that’s OK too – this is your journey, and your coach will navigate every twist and turn with thought-provoking questions and strategies to help you see the bigger picture.
How Does Coaching Benefit YOU?
OK, so what’s actually in it for you?
- Practical tools: Parenting is a rollercoaster of emotions and situations. A coach will help you understand what’s going on, pinpoint triggers, and work with you to develop strategies to keep things from throwing you off balance.
- Setting boundaries and taking care of yourself: Ever felt like saying “no” would make you a bad person? Your coach can help you push back on things that don’t work for you, and keep healthy boundaries with everyone—from your kids and in-laws to your friends and colleagues.
- Building Confidence: Your coach comes from a place of believing the best in you – yes, the best – and is there to help you feel proud of the parent you are. You’ll walk away with more than a few “Aha!” moments, and feel like you’ve got a handle on things without second-guessing yourself at every turn.
- Less Stress, More Laughs: Parenting (and life!) can be stressful, and sometimes that stress can suck the fun out of life, even when things are going well. A coach helps you to not just survive but actually enjoy the ride.
- Personal growth (beyond parenting): Coaching is about YOU, so expect a ripple effect in all areas of life. You’ll gain tools that make you a better communicator, a more intentional partner, a newly focused co-worker or motivated business-owner – the list goes on!