Separating how I parent from how I was parented

[skeetaboat]

This isn't really an answer to your question but since becoming a parent I judge my own parents much less harshly. And I think we should judge ourselves kindly too. However perfect we aim to be, there will be something that we say, or do, or don't do, or don't say, that will have an effect on our children that would make us cringe. That's the nature of the job. As parents we are everything to our children, but it's simply impossible for us to be the 'perfect parent'. We can learn from our parent's mistakes but we will undoubtedly make our own. As long as we are conscious of our parenting, do the very best that we can, and ask for forgiveness when we mess up, we're doing a great job.