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Standing there in the bookstore, holding my well-rested, content baby, I felt that familiar wave of self-doubt crash over me. Who am I to know what's best? I'm just a first-time mom.

But then something clicked. That evening, as I tucked my daughter into her crib at 7 PM and watched her drift peacefully to sleep—as she had every night for weeks—I realized something profound: I was proud of myself for going against the grain and seeking an option that suited my family with intention.

That bookstore moment marked my transformation into what I now call a maverick parent—and it changed everything about how I approached raising my children.

Here's what I've learned after raising five children: The most dangerous thing you can do as a parent is try to please everyone else instead of serving your unique family.

A true maverick parent evaluates options through their family's unique lens and chooses what serves them best, regardless of whether it's popular or conventional. You were given a voice inside of you for a reason. Listen and act on it.

[Read the full post to discover the 6 questions that will transform how you make parenting decisions →]