Parenting Fails, Part 1: Identity Parenting // Jordan Brokaw

You love your kids. You want to get this parenting thing right. But what happens when your love turns into pressure—on them, or on you?

Most of us are doing the best we can with what we’ve got, but somewhere along the way, we can start tying our own worth to how well our kids behave, succeed, or turn out. Whether you’re a new parent, stepparent, grandparent—or just someone trying to break the cycle from the family you grew up in—it’s easy to fall into patterns we don’t even realize are shaping the people we love the most.

This week at Neighborhood, we’re kicking off a new series called Parenting Fails—and it’s not about shaming anyone or pretending there’s a perfect family model. It’s about getting honest, growing in self-awareness, and discovering the freedom that comes from rooting our identity in something deeper than performance—ours or our kids’.

You don’t have to be a parent to find something meaningful here. Because when we let go of the pressure to be perfect and embrace the grace to grow, our families—and our faith—can begin to heal.