Close your eyes and picture your little ones.
Now imagine them as an adult:
- What do they look like?
- How often do you speak?
- Do they live nearby or far away?
- What type of friends / community surrounds them?
- How do they carry themselves?
Finally, think about the kind of relationship you want them with them.
- What does this feel like?
- What words come to mind?
- Who do they come to for help?
- How do you nurture this relationship?
Our connection with our children is the essence of conscious parenting.
If you feel drawn to this philosophy as much I do for my own daughter, here are 3 tips to get started.
Inner Soul Care
This is one of the biggest attributes of living a more conscious lifestyle as parent.
Instead of putting our energy towards trying to control our children’s behavior with rewards, the conscious parent instead fuels their energy inwards.
- How can we be more present in our day to day life?
- What’s working / not working in my relationship with motherhood?
- How can I best take care of my inner child?
- What are my triggers & what causes them?
It isn’t about being perfect, but having an awareness of our actions so that we can best show up from a place of regulation for our children.
It’s All About Relationship
At it’s heart, the foundation of conscious parenting is forming a respectful, authentic connection with our little ones.
When babies are born, it’s easy to think of them as “sponges” or “little potatoes” until they start growing older, when their personality starts to shine through.
But the truth is : our children ( even as babies!) come with their own unique set of personality and temperaments.
We don’t have the power to change who our babies inherently are.
Instead, we focus on getting to know our children and developing a respectful relationship from the start.
In essence, treat them how you want to be treated. The same standards of respect we have for the adults in our life, should be given to our children as well.
Resources To Get You Started
“Elevating Childcare : A Guide to Respectful Parenting
Janet Julian is the holy grail when it comes to conscious / respectful parenting. When I first came across the Conscious parenting movement, it was through Janet Julian’s book, “Elevating Childcare : A Guide to Respectful Parenting.
The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children
In Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s conscious approach to parenting, however, children serve as mirrors of their parents’ forgotten self. She teaches us how to do the “soul work” and how our children teach us to be more mindful in our lives.
Conscious Parenting & Re-Parenting Guide 1.0
The Mellow Mama is a great resource on Conscious Parenting. Some things the course covers are how to build a relationship with our children, how behaviorism destroys our connection with our kids, mindset shifts.
Related :Power of the First Impression : Talking to Children on Sex & Consent
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rosebailey008 says
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