It is painful as a parent to watch our children in pain, or anticipating pain.
And confusing in situations where there is necessary pain and discomfort like in the case of medical care.
The key to helping our children navigate these challenging moments is in staying calm (not taking their anxiety on) and in staying present (feeling empathy for their fear and discomfort but not shutting down).
As adults if we avoid their anxiety and worry it will continue to cycle inside their little bodies and likely come out more intensely.
I always tell myself "this is an opportunity for my child to learn more about their emotions and for me to continue to show them what empathy and support in a relationship feels like".
Hang in there parents, Dentists and Doctors visits are not for the faint of heart 💜❤️💜❤️
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Learn three simple techniques to help you reset and reconnect with your children when you reach your breaking point as a parent, including taking a time out, having a silly tantrum, and taking a silent hug reset.
The idea of toughening up your children to deal with the world only makes you their first bully, stripping them of their sense of belonging with you; treat your children with respect and connection so that they instinctively protect themselves from unkind and cruel treatment.
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Discover how to avoid power struggles and teach your toddler to attune to their bodies by using a natural consequence when they won't put on their coat on a cold day in this helpful video that emphasizes the importance of letting them feel the cold and learn from the experience, and seeking an evaluation with a psychologist if they struggle with interoception due to neurodivergent wiring such as autism or ADHD.
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