Write down your thoughts and responses to the following questions:

What am I hoping to accomplish as a parent? What is my overall, long-term, positive goal?

What is my purpose in being a parent?

What were my parents hoping to accomplish when raising me? If possible, ask your parent(s) this question.

If I were to ask my kids what they think my purpose as a parent is, what would they say?

How often do I think about my parenting purpose? If I thought about my parenting purpose more often, how might this influence how I interact with my children?

As indicated in the introduction, discuss your responses with your spouse/partner. If you are a single parent, discuss your responses with a trusted adult who knows your family. As you discuss and share, be sure to be open-minded and avoid judgment.