Conscious Parenting | Enhancing Family Relationships

Share this with your parent friends 💛 It’s never too late to make it clear, that you are their person. Credit: @the_therapist_parent via @insideparenting

Share this with someone who needs to see it! From: @the.holistic.psychologist Depression is a sign human beings are in an evolutionary mismatch— and we CAN correct it.

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. @destini.ann gives us a shift that will transform your parenting: Responding to your child’s needs, and not their behaviors Focusing on establishing connection with our kids, doesn’t equate to teaching our kids that “bad behavior” is ok It’s often not the behavior that needs so much focus, because underneath a stream of undesirable behaviors is the same thing: frustration, anger, sadness, and needs gone unmet The greatest teaching we can give our children is HOW to deal with their emotions in a constructive way ♥️ Credit: @destini.ann and @jaiinstituteforparenting

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. Always trying to keep our kids happy is one of the most misguided parenting trends that needs to change: ‘My child cries in the car, so I offer screens.’ ‘They whine when I don’t play with them, so I can’t get anything done.’ ‘They don’t want to be outside, so we don’t go out every day.’ ‘They don’t like the food I make, so I prepare two dinners.’ ‘They are bored at a restaurant, so I give them my phone.’ ‘They get mad when I XYZ, so I ____.’ If this sounds familiar, do yourself and your kids a favor and stop. It’s not our job to make our kids happy in these ways. Yes, they will have big emotions around these things. But our role is to normalize their emotions, letting them know it’s okay to feel frustrated, irritated, bored, annoyed, angry, etc. We need to show them we believe in their ability to cope and reassure them that they will be okay. It’s not our job to fix everything or change our routines to accommodate their every whim. Kids grow and learn from daily discomforts. This is how they build resilience in a safe, loving environment, preparing them for when life isn’t as gentle or easy. We do them a disservice by not letting them experience discomfort. By avoiding normal inconveniences and trying to ensure every moment is perfect, we create kids who don’t know how to tolerate inconvenience. This can lead to anxiety, anger, depression, and an inability to cope with life’s challenges. These kids grow into teenagers and young adults with mental health issues and unrealistic expectations. Remember, it may feel hard in the moment, but you are raising a future adult. Our kids are capable of living life alongside us. When we confidently hold them to these standards in a loving, supportive way, they become more tolerant and easygoing. Life becomes much more enjoyable for both of us!

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. @matthiasjbarker tells us it’s tough because moms who do this are often carrying their own pain. Maybe they grew up in chaos or felt powerless as kids, and now they want to make sure everything goes perfectly for their children. But in trying to make things right, they end up overstepping, taking control of things that aren’t theirs to control. This does NOT make them bad moms, but it does create distance—it builds walls between them and their kids and makes it harder for their children to feel seen, heard, and respected. It’s not about blame, it’s about recognizing these patterns and understanding that healing starts with awareness and honest conversations. Credit: @matthiasjbarker Have you experienced this with your own mum?

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. This is what they refuse to do: 1️⃣ Overprotect: They allow their kids to make mistakes and learn from them. Life’s little challenges are seen as opportunities to grow. 2️⃣ Rescue Too Quickly: They don’t rush to save their kids from every hardship. Instead, they teach them to face challenges and find solutions. 3️⃣ Dismiss Feelings: They acknowledge their child’s emotions, teaching them to understand and express feelings in a healthy way. 4️⃣ Give Unrealistic Praise: Instead of non-stop praise, they provide constructive feedback, fostering a realistic sense of self-confidence. 5️⃣ Prevent Risk Taking: They encourage safe and sensible risk-taking, which fosters independence and courage. 6️⃣ Set a Bad Example: They model the behavior they want to see, understanding that actions often speak louder than words. 7️⃣ Shield From Responsibility: They assign age-appropriate chores and responsibilities, helping their children understand the value of hard work and commitment. 💬 What do you think is essential for raising mentally strong kids? mental_health_for_kids

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. How would you feel if your partner barked orders at you while you were in the middle of something else? Annoyed? Tempted to resist their instructions? This reel by @thewiseparent shows exactly this. Now think about how we often approach our kids like this. We interrupt their world—whether they’re playing, reading, or simply daydreaming—and expect immediate compliance. When they don’t respond, we label them as “defiant,” “difficult,” or “disobedient.” But what if, instead of disrupting their world, we stepped into it for a little bit? By focusing on connection first, we can transform power struggles into cooperation and mutual understanding. Try it out! Credit: @thewiseparent

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. This video from @robertsecond53 teaches us that all emotions serve a purpose. Think of emotions like personal messages about what’s happening inside us. For example: • Joy: Joy is like a postcard from a favorite place, telling you you’re on the right track. • Fear: Fear might indicate that we’re trying something new and growing, or it could be a warning to slow down and reflect before we act, alerting us to potential danger. • Sadness: Sadness can signal loss or empathy for others and might also hint that it’s time to move on from something that’s not beneficial anymore. • Anger: Anger can be like an alarm bell, signaling that something is not okay. For instance, it might indicate that someone has violated our boundaries or betrayed our trust, or that we’re witnessing an injustice that needs to be addressed. Imagine if we always shut down our children’s anger, even over “the little things.” It would teach them that anger is “not allowed.” Later in life, they might suppress their anger and ignore the important messages it brings. This could lead to issues, such as hesitancy in upholding personal boundaries, which can cause various problems. Therefore, as a general rule, we want to empower our children to accept all emotions and become strong, resilient adults who trust their feelings and instincts. That’s why it’s important to validate all of your child’s feelings, including anger, no matter how “ridiculous” the reason for their anger might seem to you in the moment. One important note, however, is that validating their anger does not mean letting it run unchecked. We need to teach our kids how to express their anger in appropriate ways and that includes no physical or verbal violence. If you need help in teaching your kids how to manage their anger, stay tuned. We have something coming up soon. Credit: @robertsecond53

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. We love this tip from @transformingparenthood: drop the don’t and make it an opportunity! There are so many effective ways to lead our kids without using fear. When fear is instilled, our bodies don’t have the ability to learn most effectively, problem solve, and skill build. Credit: @transformingtoddlerhood

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. From @the.holistic.psychologist: Like hair color, height, and eye color— children also inherit the patterns of their parents. Does this mean parents have to be perfect? No because that isn’t possible. Humans are fragile, messy, and highly emotional. This means by nature we’ll hurt ourselves and people in our lives over and over again. This means by nature the next generation will carry some level of wounding— it’s a fact of life. And that’s ok. No one goes through love trauma or pain free. Ultimately, the role of a parent is to be a guide. A guide that allows them to unfold their true and natural essence. When a child is born, their parent is a god-like figure. No other person on earth matters more or has a greater influence. Like little sponges, they are watching and learning. People say things like “no one teaches us how to love” or “no one shows us how to regulate our emotions.” But this is not true. From the moment of birth, parents are teachers in the school of life. Their behavior becomes the blueprint of our unconscious (autopilot) behavior. When we have the courage to resolve our emotional issues we are gifting children with a new future. We’re saying: I love you enough to take accountability for my “stuff” so it doesn’t become your stuff. We’re saying: I’m a responsible adult who is aware that my behavior will become your habits. And while I’ll make plenty of mistakes, you’ll have a of security and safety that only comes from a parent who was willing to do the work Credit: @the.holistic.psychologist #consciousparenting

Save this and send it to a parent friend: 1. Understanding Secrets vs. Surprises vs. Privacy • Secrets: Teach children that secrets are never okay if they make someone feel scared, nervous, sad, or confused. Example explanation: “If a friend tells you something that feels heavy or unsafe, that’s a signal it’s not a secret to keep. Keeping that secret could stop them from getting the help they need.” Similarly, tell your kids: “If someone asks you to keep a secret about something they’ve done or said to you, especially if it makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or confused, that is NOT a secret you should keep. Nobody should ever ask you to keep secrets about touching, private parts, or anything that makes you feel bad. If this ever happens, you should tell me, another grown-up you trust, or your teacher right away. You won’t be in trouble, and it’s never your fault.” • Surprises: Explain that surprises are temporary and designed to make people happy. They are also designed that the person eventually find out. Example explanation: “Remember when we made a surprise cake for your brother? We didn’t tell him because it was exciting to share later. Surprises feel good and never make you or others feel scared or worried.” Help your child distinguish between respecting someone’s privacy and keeping a harmful secret. Example explanation: “If a friend tells you they’re going to the doctor, it’s private, not a secret. They’re already getting help, so you don’t need to share it. But if a friend says something like, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but I’m hurting myself,’ that’s not privacy—that’s something an adult needs to know to help keep them safe.” ** continued in the comments**

Follow @theconsciousparentinghub for more insightful parenting guidance. Save this post for the next time you want to discuss body safety and consent with your daughter (or adapt it to use with your son). I appreciate this example from @lifeofnamz of important things to discuss with your child to help keep them safe and set boundaries boundaries. She discusses body safety, consent, secret keeping, and ends with the most beautiful affirmation. “Your voice matters. Your voice has power.” May our children always be empowered to use their voices to protect themselves and to be an ally to others. Credit: @lifeofnamz