Deep breaths all you dedicated parents.
Getting frustrated with your kids doesn't make you inadequate.
Forgetting a lunch doesn't make you inadequate.
Having little to no patience or being distracted at times each day doesn't make you inadequate.
It makes you imperfect.
Just like your kids.
The very very best of parents are not perfect or anywhere near that really...what makes a parent truly great is the ability to repair a conflict or disconnect and then model compassion to their kids AND to themselves.
When you mess up... apologize and reconnect...and work to do better...and please don't beat yourself up for being human...
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Avoid focusing too much on fairness when teaching kids, as it can create a belief that good behavior is always rewarded and bad behavior is always punished, leading to the dangerous belief that they deserve any trauma they experience, instead use relational motivation to guide them towards making good choices.
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In this video, Dr. Laura Markham shares practical tips on how to help kids and parents manage boredom by staying in a place of compassionate teaching, which involves expressing empathy, helping kids notice body sensations, developing the habit of seeing boredom as an unidentified need state, being patient, and teaching kids to discover their own options without collapsing into despair.
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Learn how to set compassionate limits with your child in a way that benefits their brain development and reduces reactive responses to emotions, with the timing varying depending on factors such as age, hunger, and consistency.
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