These are 5 things that may seem simple, but are extremely effective in making gentle parenting easier.
Learning what behaviors are age appropriate will save you the frustration of expecting your 1-2 year old resist the desire to do something forbidden when they don’t start developing those abilities until the age of 3-4 at the earliest. It can bring you comfort in knowing that your child is not broken, and neither are you as a parent.
Getting familiar with your triggers will help you better navigate situations as they arise. Ex. I know I get triggered when I’m running late. So to better navigate, I need to be sure I’m well rested and up on time so that my body is calm and I can actually facilitate the morning routine, not yell through it, causing them stress.
Healing from past trauma, especially your childhood will empower you to raise your children from a place of intention and wholeness, rather than fear and brokenness. Therapy is a great place to start.
I can’t say this enough, but prioritizing self-care is essential especially when it comes to raising children. Children, especially youngsters, need to borrow from our emotions in order for them to stay emotionally regulated. And if you’re cup is not full, what exactly are you giving? You can not pour from an empty cup.
And please give yourself grace. Gentle parenting is not perfect parenting. Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is acknowledging you were wrong, repairing the relationship, and actively working towards change.
You got this!✨
Shifting the focus from the child to the parent is so powerful! Such great tips!