A Small Parents’ Guide

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 Parenting can be frustrating sometimes.

Although I'm not a parent myself, I've learned about it from my clients in therapy sessions and real-life experiences.

And that it's entirely normal!

When we become parents, we're still the same people we were before with our own dreams, ideas, emotions, successes, and mistakes.

But that doesn't excuse yelling or shouting at our kids.

Keep in mind, as a parent, you're also like a guide, a teacher, and someone your child looks up to.

It may sound cliché, but try to be the kind of parent you always wanted for yourself.

You can do this easily in four simple steps, starting with yourself:

  • Check in with yourself first and take a deep breath. Is it a good time to have this ‘tough’ conversation with your child? If not, take a short break to calm down and relax. This will activate your parasympathetic nervous system to help you create a comfortable and safe environment for both of you.
  • Remember, it is you and your child against the problem- and not you against your child. At the end of the day, you want them to understand and develop healthy behaviors and communication skills.
  • Ask your child to think about what happened and listen to their perspective. Say things like, 'What did you do? What were you thinking? How do you feel about it? What can you do differently next time? How can I support you through it?'.
  • Always make room for encouragement and celebrations. Notice your child's small victories and praise them. Did you submit your assignment on time? Great job! Did you help set the table for dinner? Amazing! Did you help your friend understand the math exercise? Well done!

Take home message: 

If you ever find yourself facing challenges in building a healthy relationship with your child, or if you're unsure how to apply these steps, don't hesitate to reach out and send me a message or an email on kindmindbydana@gmail.com 😊

Yours truly,

Dana 

Kindness is not just a virtue, it's a way of life. 


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