You enjoy parenting most when you feel expansive and flowing — the way you feel when you're not under any kind of pressure.

One of the most common pressures of modern life is time pressure: having to be somewhere or do something by a certain time. Young children naturally live in the moment, not by the clock, so subjecting them to time pressure usually leads to discord.

To reduce time pressure in your daily groove...

• Decide that geniality (feeling good) is more important than punctuality (being 'right').
• Don't agree to be on time — build flexibility into your agreements. ("I'll be there around 7:00-ish.")
• When you really want to be on time to an appointment, give yourself LOTS of extra cushion time — just accept that life with kids is less "efficient."
• Don't rush when you're late — call and renegotiate! For all you know, the person you're meeting may be late, too.
• When you can get away with it, don't make plans at all! Enjoy living spontaneously!