Jul 12, 2021
Marina talks with expert Skye Williams on the who, what, where, and why of Conscious Parenting. We have this way of parenting that we’ve followed for many generations, and that’s what we call the “old paradigm,” and it’s very outdated. This is the paradigm where we see children as less than us and know better because we’re bigger and know better. The new paradigm focuses instead on children being their unique people who should be their authentic selves.
With Conscious Parenting, children get a parent who is more aware of what they’re doing, how they’re interacting with the child, and letting their child just be a child. For the parent, they have more flow and connection through those more challenging moments. Ultimately, children need to know three main things: am I seen, do I matter, and am I worthy? Making sure we allocate full periods to our children where we are fully present is vital. Children need to be able to express themselves and learn that it’s not scary to have feelings. They can let those feelings out and still be loved and respected.
Dealing with a young child in the middle of a meltdown can be stressful. A great habit to form is pausing before reacting. Allow your child to stay in the emotional side of their brain, and talking to them will pull them back to the more logical-reasoning side. Don’t attempt to fix the problem until they’ve had the chance to self-regulate their emotions and learn that it’s okay to feel those things and that they don’t mean anything. Also, the overgiving, selfless parenting archetype is damaging to you as a parent. It’s important to ensure you are giving yourself proper self-care to be the best parent you can be.
When a child is showing up differently than a parent wants or expects, it comes down to the parent’s experience of not being accepted as a child. Ultimately we love our children and want the best for them. So we commit ourselves to fit a certain mold to fit it and gain acceptance. As parents, our job is to create a safe space for our children to explore and find their interests.
What You Will Learn: