How to Be an Inspiring Parent, According to Experts
Parenting advice from the Crazy Cool Family column explores what it really takes to motivate and inspire your kids every day.
Parenting is one of those jobs nobody fully trains you for, yet everyone has an opinion on how you should do it. The "Crazy Cool Family" column by Don and Suzanne Manning, featured in the Cross Timbers Gazette, digs into what it actually means to be an inspiring parent — not just a present one.
The full piece is locked behind the Gazette's paid subscription wall, so the specific tips and anecdotes the Mannings share aren't publicly available. What we do know is that their column consistently focuses on real-world family dynamics, practical parenting strategies, and the kind of encouragement that sticks with kids long after childhood.
Read more Vending Machines: What Products Do Americans Want Most? →
Being an inspiring parent isn't about being perfect — it's about showing up consistently, modeling the values you want your children to carry into adulthood, and finding small moments to champion their growth. Research in child development broadly supports the idea that parental encouragement has a lasting impact on a child's confidence and resilience, even when the gestures feel minor in the moment.
If you're a parent looking to level up your family game, columns like this one are worth bookmarking. Local, community-grounded parenting voices often offer more relatable guidance than the polished advice you'd find in a national bestseller — because they're talking to neighbors, not algorithms.
Continue reading at crosstimbersgazette (don & suzanne manning)
