To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
Joan DidionRead
I don't think anybody feels like they're a good parent. Or if people think they're good parents, they ought to think again.
Interpretation
Parenting often comes with self-doubt, and even those who feel confident may need to reflect on their approach.
In this quote, Joan Didion expresses the idea that many parents struggle with the perception of their own parenting abilities. Rather than feeling entirely confident in their skills, most parents experience doubt and insecurity, suggesting that the complexities of parenthood require continual reflection and self-assessment.
In practice
During a parenting workshop, this quote can be used to resonate with parents experiencing doubt.
To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
The truth is, it's easier for me to write than talk... to express the state I'm in at any time.
Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent.
I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
Do not whine... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that this is somehow a stranger who is carrying your child. And this is absolutely not true. Your surrogate becomes one of your best friends and a member of your family.
The traditional family table is round. No corners. No sides. No head. No tail. Everything is smooth. The food is in the center, and each family member reaches over the same distance. Someone you love is next to you on each side, and no one is last or at the end. The person farthest away from you is also the person facing you.
It's not the child's responsibility to teach the parent who they are. It's the parent's responsibility to learn who the child is.
No parent should have their child die before he or she does.
I want to be around to see my son grow up and to enjoy my grandkids, which means I need to make my health a priority.
You hear a lot of dialogue on the death of the American family. Families aren't dying. They're merging into big conglomerates.
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