February is Parent Leadership Month, and we are celebrating parents across South Carolina who work to improve the lives of their families, neighbors and communities every day.
Amanda Ingle is a resident of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and has two boys, Kaiden, 15, and Mark, 2. As a 40-year-old single mom, Amanda recently shared some of the joy and wisdom of her parenting journey, and how participating in Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) with New Directions of Horry County and Tidelands Health helped her family.
What parenting advice would you give your younger self?
Parenting is hard, an adventure. Let God be the center of you. Never give up. Parenting is learning something new every day—your kids are the reason you get up every day and push through the day.
You will make mistakes; allow those mistakes to make you a better parent. Your kids will see you struggle and it’s ok because as long you overcome that struggle, they will see that. And know when they get older, they too will overcome those struggles because of the strength you showed and taught them. They will learn from your mistakes. As will you.
Teach them the value of a dollar and keep your kids humble. Never sacrifice yourself, or your kids for anything. And never take your kids for granted.
Love on your kids and spend time with them any chance they get. If they lay on the floor, lay beside them. Talk to them like they are people—human beings—and let them know their feelings matter. And most of all, always let them know and show them they are important.
How did Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) help you as a parent?
No matter how old my kids are, in order for them to understand me, I have to get on their level. And it helped me be more patient with my kids.
What’s your favorite game or activity to play with your children?
I love watching them play. Taking them to feed the ducks, spending time at the beach, watching my oldest play video games and skateboard—whatever interests my kids have, I’m all for it. I love watching my youngest color and learn new things.
Every day is an adventure that I want to take my kids on, and whatever they want to do, I will support and learn with them. As long as there is a smile on their face, then my heart is most content.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
These past 5 years have been a very eye-opening journey for me as a person and as a mama. My boys are my world my heart and my soul and I wouldn’t be able to get through life without them…they are the absolute best of me. Every time I come up against an obstacle, I look at my boys and say if I don’t keep fighting what kind of example am I setting for my boys? They are the very reason I’m here today.
Pictured are Amanda and her sons, Kaiden and Mark.
—
Triple P is a parenting support program for parents that provides easy, practical strategies to help caregivers navigate challenges and build healthy relationships with their children.
It is offered in Georgetown County by Tidelands Health, the local coordinating agency of the program, through a grant from Children’s Trust of South Carolina and The Duke Endowment. Learn more about Triple P in Georgetown.
