This is my story of going through parenting challenges and then moving into serving other mothers…
Hi Mom!
My name is Kim Muench, I am the founder of Real Life Parent Guide, I am passionate about helping moms who are in the midst of parenting kids high school age and older.
You see, in May of 2008, I went through the greatest parenting challenge of my life. The eldest of my five children called me from across the country to say he was in trouble…he was failing classes, about to lose his job, and his use of alcohol was totally out of control.
At the time he was twenty years old.
When I answered his call for help, I didn’t waste time wondering how it had happened or ask myself, “Why me?!” I knew the way I had parented him and was parenting, contributed to the life-threatening situation he was in and one that I could no longer deny.
During his spiral through the darkness, I worked with my son to help him find long term sobriety by supporting and encouraging him but never doing for him what he could do for himself. It wasn’t easy, all the while my energy and focus were on discovering and understanding where things between he and I, actually myself and all of my children, could be different/better/healthier/more connected.
I knew any change in our relationship started with me. And, to this day, it continues with me. So I began to educate myself, make my own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being a priority. That included parenting in a completely different light. Today my kids are ages 15-32 and my son is now ten years sober.
In my journey to redefine my role as a mom who would guide, instead of trying to control my kid’s choices and behavior, one who would work hand-in-hand with them instead of trying to dominate the relationship, I was led to research dozens of parenting, self-discovery, and personal growth books and courses. My quest prompted me to return to college to finish a degree in psychology, and it led me to an internship where my greatest responsibility was supporting and encouraging other parents who had teens in outpatient addiction treatment. In addition, my path led me to spend a year writing and publishing a memoir about my experience as a mother with a child in the throes of addiction.
Ultimately, my journey took me to a certification in parent coaching through the Jai Institute for Parenting because I believe the quality of the relationship between ourselves and our children is the essence of what it will take to create positive change in the world, not only during our lifetime but for future generations as well. And the quality of that relationship begins with a mother’s relationship to self.
Mothers are the emotional barometers in the family.
Everything our kids learn and experience starts at home with us. If we [moms] don’t make ourselves a priority by taking the time to cultivate our inner voice, our physical/emotional/spiritual well-being, we teach our children their well-being is not worthwhile either.
I call myself a real-life parent guide because I have a very down-to-earth approach to balancing kids’ needs, mother’s desires, and keeping what our culture tells us about how family life “should look” in check.
When you are ready, I can help you find what I have found with my own kids…peace, mutual trust and respect, playfulness, camaraderie, and above all else…unconditional love and acceptance.
My kids, who are now in high school/college/grown and flown, have taught me about where I needed to grow as a mom, and about the importance of having faith, calm, courage, patience, and grace incorporated into my everyday life.