05/31/2021
Our own childhood experiences can greatly impact the way that we parent.
✨ What beliefs did your parents or teachers have about you that you carried through childhood, adolescence, even into adulthood? How would your life have been different if you weren't burdened by their expectations?
Often times, when left unexamined, our parenting styles can be drawn from instincts that aren't productive for raising independent, confident, resilient children in the world. 🌍
As an example, a parent I coach came to me because she was going through a hard time with her son and needed guidance. By observing their interaction, it became clear that she would laser focus in on what her son "shouldn't" do. By focusing in on only the challenging behaviors, or only noticing what's "wrong", she wasn't modeling what he should do. This is called Negative tracking.
This of course doesn't mean we should ignore the challenging behaviors and pretend they're not happening. What we could do instead, is get to a higher ratio of focusing on positive behaviors, and you will begin to see more of what you want. Aim for a ratio of 3:1, appreciation to criticism.
🌈 The words we speak become the house we live in, for better or worse. Expectation becomes reality. Be kind, and speak to your children as if they are the most magical, wonderful humans, for what they believe is what they will become.
For more, please read the Scaffold Effect by Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., j