I am always trying to evolve, so I like to read parenting books

The words of Kourtney Kardashian carry the ring of humility and aspiration: “I am always trying to evolve, so I like to read parenting books and things like that.” Though spoken in a modern age of fame and distraction, these words echo the ancient wisdom that growth is never finished, that to raise children is not only to shape their souls but to continually refine one’s own. In admitting her need to evolve, she reveals a truth many forget: that parenting is not a destination but a journey, a discipline, a lifelong apprenticeship in love.

The ancients taught that the wise are those who know they do not know. To read, to seek, to learn—this is the mark not of weakness but of strength. In saying she turns to parenting books, Kardashian joins the long tradition of seekers who humbly gather the wisdom of others to strengthen their own path. In the scrolls of old, parents sought counsel from elders, from poets, from sacred texts, from teachers who carried the memory of generations. Today the books may be bound in different covers, but the principle is unchanged: the parent who seeks wisdom for their child is fulfilling a sacred duty to grow alongside them.

Consider the example of Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome. Though he ruled the greatest empire of his age, he filled his journal—what we now call the Meditations—with questions, lessons, and reminders, always striving to improve his character for the sake of his people and his family. He never claimed mastery; he only claimed the daily task of evolving. In the same way, Kardashian’s words remind us that even those with worldly power or wealth are bound by the same law: to raise children well, you must first raise yourself anew, every day.

Her words also carry a quiet defiance against the illusion of perfection. Many imagine that once they become parents, they should already know everything—that mistakes are failure, that struggle is weakness. But in truth, every parent stumbles. Every parent meets moments of uncertainty. By confessing that she reads and learns, Kardashian shows that true strength in parenting lies not in pretending to know all, but in seeking to grow. The child does not need a perfect parent; they need a parent who is willing to change, to adapt, to love in new ways.

There is wisdom here for all generations. To evolve is to accept that yesterday’s methods may not serve tomorrow’s challenges, that each child calls forth new lessons, new patience, new creativity. Just as the seasons of life turn, so too must the parent be willing to change. The proud will resist and break; the humble will bend and grow. This is the way of resilience, the way of endurance.

The lesson for us is clear: do not cling to the illusion that you already know enough. Instead, walk the path of learning with humility. Seek wisdom wherever it may be found—in books, in conversations, in the quiet observation of your child’s spirit. Let each mistake become a teacher, each challenge an opportunity to refine yourself. In this way, parenting becomes not only the shaping of children but also the sanctification of parents.

Practically, this means setting aside time to reflect and to study. Read works that stretch your heart as well as your mind. Speak with other parents, not to compare, but to share. Watch your children closely, for they themselves are often the greatest teachers, showing you where you must grow in patience, compassion, or discipline. Above all, commit yourself daily to the path of evolution, knowing that as you change, you offer your children a living example of growth.

Thus, Kardashian’s words, though simple, resound with ancient power: “I am always trying to evolve.” Let this be the creed of every parent. For in evolving, we not only guide our children more wisely—we show them that life itself is a journey of becoming, and that those who walk it with humility and courage will always rise.