Tough being a parent.
Ask one and they'll be grateful to tell you all about it.
Over thirty years in I'm happy I get another day to be alive next to them. Even the one I've never been a father to I'm grateful that we are both still breathing and available for opportunity to rekindle a never dead flame.
As I reflect on the differences in my role as my children grew through each age and stage I am amazed at what works. That understanding arrived in hindsight only mind you, never prior to its necessity. Once learned, never needed again.
Peer support has been around since the first time two of anything helped each other. As if a default choice for propinquity, peer support serves as the foundation of any positive connection. The determining factor seems to be mutuality or aligned motivation.
Back to my parental lament. (The way I began this post. Good, you didn't notice.)
It is tough being a parent. Yet I've found it improves dramatically when children grow into adults and we communicate within proven frameworks of peer support and mutuality.
Seems like most everything is better when seasoned with a bit of those...our salt and pepper. Peer Support and Mutuality....super spices!

Holding down the fourth position in our self-care paradigm (play, create, observe & practice) we surmise we stowed it away in the rear so we didn't stumble upon it to often.
Really - very rarely do I like to repeat what I've done, know I can do and believe I do well enough. So many other experiences - so little time. Practice I know I have no time for. (Indeed I do for alliteration though...;-)
Unless I want to improve. Therein that discernment lies one's motivation.
Why don't I practice - like it or not?
For me, I stated above my preference for a volume of experiences, "so many...". On the other hand we have quality of experience.
Aaargh...choices! How do I decide? (Remember what I want and why...)
Practice helps with quality. It's that simple.
Let the practice begin!