Wouldn’t it be great to have a “before” and “after” parenting show?

Last month I traveled on swanky Virgin America and enjoyed the guilty pleasure of watching “What Not to Wear”.  Are you like me? Loving the transformation of the frumpy working gal into the self-confident put together chick? (Hint: I’m a great candidate – waiting to be nominated).

I’m drawn to the details of improvement – the way a crowded, gloomy living room, rearranged with better light, pillows, and plants becomes a welcoming space for activity and life.  Powerful.

Let’s bring this analogy home to my life as a parent. Here’s a situation I’m sure you’ll relate to.  Notice the before and after scenes – I’m the same, loving mom in each.  The difference is, in the second scene, I have a deeper understanding of Positive Discipline and with a few tweaks, the interaction with my daughter is transformed at the core.

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The scene: I’m putting my 6 year-old Sonja to bed and have just finished reading her a story.

Before:

Sonja:  Mom, I’m afraid.

Me:  What are you afraid of? (feeling a bit annoyed and thinking “what could you possibly be afraid of?!”)

Sonja:  I’m scared to go to bed.

Me:  There’s nothing to be scared of – you’re in your cozy bed and your family is home with you. (My annoyance is building.)

Sonja: I’m still afraid.

Me:  That’s silly cause you are perfectly safe. (I’m determined to leave and stop this conversation.)

As I leave the room a jumble of thoughts go through my mind:

  • What have I done to make her so insecure?
  • What’s wrong with her that she can’t simply go to sleep?
  • How will her fear manifest in the future?
  • It’s simple, she hasn’t had enough hardship in her life – if she’d had more trials, like me, then she’d know what fear really is!

After (with a Positive Discipline approach):

Sonja:  Mom, I’m afraid.

Me:  What are you afraid of?

Sonja:  I’m afraid to go to sleep. I’m afraid of all the normal stuff that people are afraid of.

Me:  Where do you feel that in your body?

Sonja:  My heart. It’s like I have butterflies fluttering in my heart and frogs jumping in my stomach.

Me:  Oh, that doesn’t sound good. (I place my hand on her heart).

Sonja:  Do you ever get scared?

Me:  Yes.  Remember last week when we were on the airplane and it was really bumpy and you were laughing and whooping it up? I was really afraid – I didn’t like how that felt AT ALL.

Sonja: I was scared too but it was also fun and funny.

Me:  People get scared of different things – I LOVE GOING TO BED.

I left the room, my daughter fell asleep. I wasn’t worried about her future. I felt close and connected to her.

Let’s look at some of the obvious differences in how I felt and acted in the two scenes.

BEFORE:

  • Worried
  • Fearful
  • Stuck in limited “role” of mom
  • Focus on how I’ve failed as a mom

AFTER:

  • Curious
  • Open
  • Interested in our shared human experience
  • Willing to share my vulnerability
  • In the present
  • Faith in my daughter to figure it out

While there’s no perfect way to parent, we can make small, subtle shifts that bring in the light to reveal our higher self. When we allow this to happen, we truly sparkle. The end result? An intimate moment of precious connection with our child. There’s nothing more beautiful than that.

We have much to learn from each other.

CONSIDERSHAREACT

In the comments below share what motivates you to go from scene 1 to 2? What helps you sparkle?

Next time you’re in that #1 scenario, stop, breath, connect, wait. Let us know what happens.

Contact me to learn more about parent and life coaching and future Parenting with Positive Discipline Classes.