Courageous Parents

I haven’t felt much like posting on here lately. But my TEDx talk that went live in the fall hit over 100k views, so I’m celebrating that this message has been received by so many. Feeling grateful 🙏🏼❤️

If you want to watch it, you can google Chrissy Chard TEDx and it should come right up. Or via the link in my bio. And I’d love if you’d give it a 👍🏼 or better yet leave a comment. Thank you thank you!

In module four, we'll focus on cultivating a culture of compassion and connection. You'll have the chance to reflect on your journey and gain strategies to encourage compassion in your home, school, and community. Let's work together to create a positive and supportive environment for everyone.

In module three, we focus on responding compassionately to your child's mistakes. You'll learn techniques for acknowledging their emotions, offering support, and solving problems together. We'll also explore "out of the moment" strategies such as self-reflection and forgiveness, helping you create a more understanding and supportive environment.

In module two, we’ll delve into some of the negative impacts of traditional discipline and learn "in the moment" strategies like compassionate listening and validation. Let's shift from control and punishment to empathy and understanding, creating a more nurturing environment for our kids.

In the first module, we'll explore the fascinating world of adolescent development. You'll learn about your child's brain development, hormonal changes, and behaviors, and see how traditional discipline impacts them. Together, we'll lay the groundwork for positive discipline.

Are you ready to transform your parenting approach? Enroll in "Reimagining Discipline: Cultivating Compassionate Parenting," a new online mini-course featuring 6 insightful modules. Dr. Chrissy Chard will guide you through practical tools and strategies to foster resilience and connection in your children. Join us as we explore the power of positive discipline and work together to create a nurturing environment for our kids.

Parental mental health conditions can have far reaching and profound implications for children, families as a whole, and for society… the well-being of parents and caregivers is a critical and underappreciated public health priority.”

And yet, until we view the responsibility of raising children as a collective one, with a systemic focus, nothing will change. Just like other areas of public health where we’ve historically blamed individuals and therefore viewed solutions to be about individual behavior change, we tell parents to do self-care and that they just need to parent differently. There is nothing gentle, positive, peaceful or transformational about this approach. 🤦🏽‍♀️

We need to see the systems to name the systems to change the systems. ✌🏼

Can we please stop saying “it’s just too much”?

What if, instead of
“it’s just too much”

we ask ourselves,

“What do I not have enough of?”

“What is lacking in me such that I cannot bear witness?”

“What do I need to do, feel, grow, heal in order to bear witness and then take action?“

And then we answer these questions for ourselves...

Do I need more community where I can talk about what’s happening?

Do I need to slow down enough to let the grief or rage settle into my body?

Do I need another calm nervous system to co-regulate with, so that I can feel my feelings?

Do I need to deal with the guilt I have for not acting sooner?

Do I need a break, so I can get off the hamster wheel of grind culture that keeps me distracted from my feelings?

Do I need to learn practices to get back into my body, so I can remember my own humanity, and then remember the sense of common humanity and interconnectedness?

(Yes, many of us do.)

We are in this for the long haul.

So the question becomes, how do we grow our capacity to stay connected to our sense of humanity, such that we CAN bear witness, and then keep fighting like hell?

And for us parents out there, there’s another set of questions as well:

How do I support my children to stay connected to their sense of interconnectedness?

How do I keep them connected to their OWN inner knowing?

How do I engage with them so that they may never disconnect from themselves in the first place?

This is why parenting requires courage.

How fun is this?! My SISTER and I are co-hosting an event locally to help moms build community and prep for the summer. In case you didn’t know this, my amazing sister is a professional organizer. So we’re going to explore how we can clear out our spaces, as well as our thought patterns that get in the way of us enjoying our time with the kiddos.

Join us on Thursday, June 6th at Bison Ridge Rec Center for an evening of connection, community, and organization!

Register using the QR code or the link in my bio ✌🏼❤️

There are still a few spots left for my four-week in-person parenting course at the Bison Ridge Recreation Center. We meet Tuesdays from 6:30-7:45pm, and childcare is available through the rec center. Commerce City Parks, Recreation & Golf

Topics include:
Values-based parenting, Child development, Nervous system science, Discipline, Boundaries and Cooperation/Listening.

Skills you'll learn include:
Active listening, Nervous System regulation and Managing big emotions, Values-aligned discipline, Infusing play and storytelling.

You can register at the link below, or by scanning the QR code on the flyer!
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/c3gov/activity/search/detail/59184?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

Calling all Commerce City and Metro Denver parents! In April, I'll be hosting a four-week transformational parenting course at Bison Ridge with Commerce City Parks, Recreation & Golf.

In this course we will explore topics ranging from Recent discoveries in child development, Values-based parenting, Avoiding the pendulum swing between permissive and authoritative parenting, Nervous system science, Discipline/Boundaries/Limits and Gaining cooperation. You will leave each week with tangible strategies you can apply right away, as well as connections with other local parents!

You can still register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/c3gov/activity/search/detail/59184?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

Commerce City Parks and Rec do an amazing job making their offerings affordable and accessible to people, so check this out if you're looking for support and community in your parenting.

Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have!

I am honored to be part of Lovin' Life with Littles "Raising a Healthy, Happy Teen Summit"! If you have not yet done so, be sure to register and checkout all the AMAZING speakers and topics she has lined up!

Click here to register! https://courageousparents--lovinlifewithlittles.thrivecart.com/healthy-happy-teen-summit-aap-2024/6030af27ff090/

Have you ever punished your kid and felt a bit bad about it? Ever punished your kid and thought, "Is this even working?"

In this empowering presentation, Dr. Chard takes a look at some of the unintended negative consequences of punishment. She paints a picture of what we as parents can do instead to handle challenges in a way that supports our teens' mental and emotional development. Her approach is compassionate of both parents and the teens we love.

You'll walk away feeling grounded and inspired to connect with your teen on a deep level.

Dr. Chrissy Chard is the founder of Courageous Parents, a Colorado-based parent coaching practice that is heart-centered, values-aligned, and supports parents in raising the next generation of social change agents. She's a former faculty member with the Colorado School of Public Health. Dr. Chard is the current director of the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership’s Advanced Leadership Training Program and co-founder of the non-profit organization Smart Fit Girls, an adolescent girls’ empowerment program.

Apart from spending quality time with her three kiddos and partner, some of her other favorite nervous-system-regulating activities include lifting heavy weights, connecting with friends, cold plunging, going for a walk alone, going to therapy, using fidget toys ( ), and dancing solo in their living room.

Follow Dr. Chard at .

👉 And join us for the Raising a Healthy, Happy Teen Virtual Summit to hear Dr. Chard's presentation and all the other expert speakers. It's happening March 19-22. Register FREE at www.lovinlifewithlittles.com/HAPPYTEEN.