How to find your parenting superpowers

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By Jessica L. Beck

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Kelly McGinnis is the President of Incredible Family Working Parent Institute, who provides strengths- based training and coaching programs for working parents. Kelly said, “Many parents are afraid they are doing things wrong, that they are not enough, that they don't?have what it takes to be?a good parent. It takes courage to invest in yourself and your family. We have been conditioned to think that there is a right way to parent, but all parents have what it takes to raise a successful child. They just need the courage to step out and learn about themselves so that they can leverage their strengths to bring out the best in their kids.” Do you have the courage?”

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Kelly shared that those who benefit most by working with Incredible Family are those employees feeling burnout with parenting, employees experiencing frustration and conflict, or those feeling guilt around being an employee and a parent. Some of the changes she has seen in the employees who have engaged in the services offered by Incredible Family include gaining self-awareness, the ability to be more authentic in the workplace, more positive connections and home and work, and empowerment to reach their potential and connect to a greater purpose.?The greatest benefit Kelly has seen participants gain is the gift of confidence which helps them stop second -guessing their decisions and comparing themselves to other parents, which benefits them and their children.

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Kate Bernacki, Coordinator of VOSP / Kid’s Plates CDPH, a veteran health educator with California Department of Public Health, started attending The Incredible Family services offered by her employer about two years ago, a year into COVID. She said, “The tools taught help me solve problems and understand different perspectives. I liked that the coaches talked about their own parenting mistakes.” After attending the workshops, she decided to sign up with a parenting coach and meets weekly to learn strategies and discuss options to successfully co-parent her 12-year-old daughter. She said, “Having a parenting coach is like having an ACE in my back pocket.”

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Kate took the Incredible Parent Assessment to discover where she excels as a parent. Kate’s daughter also took an assessment and after both learning of their strengths, which were drastically different, Kate has evolved how she communicates with her daughter to be more effective and engaging. Kate has learned that sometimes she needs to ask, “Are you looking for me to problem solve or offer you a hug and a listening ear?”

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One of Kate’s parenting strengths is “Advisor” meaning she understands reality and seeks to keep her vision far-reaching and ideas current. Parents with this strength are mature, humble, excellent at asking questions and comfortable with the unknown because they know the answer is out there. They are wise, discerning, trusted, respected, knowledgeable and an excellent source of counsel. But sometimes kids don’t want to be “advised,” they just need to experience life. It’s been critical for Kate to learn that this skill can be reined in when parenting to let her daughter learn how to express herself and be heard , not judged or “advised.”

With her job, other resources have been offered, including the Gallup Clifton Strengthfinder assessment, which Kate was excited to take and compare the two evaluations. “Having completed the parenting strengths assessment and the work strengths assessment, I now have two sets of strengths which are basically two perspectives to some of the same concepts. It’s great to see how compatible my work and parenting strengths are, and how they overlap. . Of course, my work and my home are priority areas – so I need to solve challenges in both areas!”

Kate encourages others thinking about participating in family services to look into these resources because they are tailored to your unique situation and have proven to be effective. But don’t think it’s easy because you have to be self-reflective and open to try new ways to make real change. “Your boss can’t always help you with family life, nor do you want to always spill everything to your boss (or co-workers) but having a parenting coach or taking a parenting class levels your own playing field to accept that you need a bit of help/assistance/support to get unstuck sometimes. I like that the coaching gives you skills, tips, ideas on what to practice differently, instead of having to figure it out all by yourself.. Fortunately, and especially at my wits end with COVID, I’ve been able to see a positive change in my relationship with my daughter and can continue to use these tools long into our future!”

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Want more information?

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If you are an organization that is interested in partnering with the Incredible Family Working Parent Institute, you can book a call with Kelly here

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You can take the parenting strengths test here: IP Check out – Incredible Family

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Connect with a parenting here: Coaches – Incredible Family

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Read more in the Incredible Parent book , which includes an assessment code

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