Have you ever flown on a commercial airplane? Are you aware that the majority of the time the airplane does not travel on its specific flight course?!

How do planes reach their destination, when factors such as air currents and whether constantly move it off course?

Obviously, the pilot’s navigation results in bringing the airplane to its destination. Throughout the flight, the pilot guides the plan towards its intended fligh path. The destination is kept in the pilot’s mind all through the journey, and no matter how far away from its route the plane is flying, he constantly is constantly steering back towards the intended destination.

Today, our parenting responsibilities closely resemble an airplane pilot’s flight plans.

It is impossible to be a perfect parent all of the time. We cannot hope to stay on a defined course. There are too many variables, such as children’s personalities, pressures of the workplace, and the unexpected dynamics of everyday living.

Parenting advice must be viewed as a flight plan. The guidelines should be viewed as an overall strategy, not a specific map, to reach our destination. By keeping the appropriate parenting path in mind, we can keep ourselves from straying too far off course, and hopefully reach our goals.

P.S. Have a safe trip! I look forward to meeting you after we ‘land’!