If you’ve ever found yourself in these situations or felt this way, just remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Parents facing ongoing challenges often continue to struggle unless they take different action… and triumph!

Choosing a different, explorative path can be a source of comfort, a time to heal old wounds, and pave the way for a more joy-filled family life. You’ve got this!

“Children learn that although they can’t always get what they want, they get something even better; a mum or a dad who always understands.”

 ~Dr Laura Markham~

“The most powerful way to change the world is to live in front of our children the way we would like the world to be.”

~Graham R White~

Every parent embarks on the journey without a manual, and unintentionally, our parenting approaches may foster conflict rather than connection. The authoritarian methods ingrained in many of us can lead to frustration, ongoing power struggles, yelling, punishments, and strained relationships with our children.

Despite our earnest desire to parent differently or our desperate wishes for a different outcome, without addressing our own past experiences, we risk perpetuating painful patterns from our own childhoods.

We hear ourselves questioning ourselves…Am I doing the right thing? Did I just do what I vowed I would never do as a parent? Do I sound like my parents? Did I just shame and criticize my child? What am I doing wrong? Why won’t my kids listen to me? Why is this so hard?

We are trying everything we can think of to be the best parent we can be, but we find ourselves yelling at our kids, giving ultimatums, feeling deflated, feeling like we are coming up short no matter what we try. In a nutshell, we don’t feel good, and we feel like we are fighting an upward battle.

On top of that, when we prioritize control, as culturally encouraged in many families, instead of the envisioned loving, enjoyable, joyful, and beautiful experience of parenting, it often transforms into a dynamic centred around dominance and obedience. This shift explains the struggles many parents face.

On top of everyday parenting challenges, many parents are also struggling to parent a child who is suffering with anxiety, or excessive worrying.  As a parent, your #1 priority is to protect your kids and you want nothing more than for them to feel safe, loved, and secure in the world, but you may feel unsure how to help, worry you’ll say the wrong thing, or feel stuck between supporting your child and maintaining reasonable expectations.

If any of this is resonating with you, please hear me… You are not a bad parent and you do not have bad children!

“Any time your child pushes your buttons, he’s showing you an unresolved issue from your own childhood.”

 ~Dr Laura Markham~

It is never too late to transform the dynamics of your relationship with your child(ren)!

Regardless of the current state of your connection or relationship with your child(ren), please know there is hope! You can forge a new relationship with your child(ren) grounded in love, connection, and trust, as opposed to relying on power, fear, and control. When you choose to approach parenting differently, aligning with your heart, soul, and values, you can finally create the peaceful, enjoyable, and cooperative home you’ve always desired.

There is a bright beam of light ahead in your parenting path and I can lead the way!

With your commitment to learning, reflection, honesty, vulnerability, curiosity, and empathy you can transform your parenting and family dynamics from yelling and bickering to connection, trust, respect, and cooperation!

“Shifting from addressing behaviours to trying to understand their origins and triggers means making a shift from managing our children to understanding them deeply.”

~Dr Mona Delahooke~

Discover the Magic of Peaceful Parenting and Embrace Harmony

When it comes to parenting, peaceful parenting is my top pick.

When parents come across the term ‘Peaceful Parenting,’ some may feel the urge to run a mile for one of two reasons. Firstly, there’s often a misconception that it means a permissive parenting style where kids are allowed to do as they please; and secondly when they learn it involves connecting with children without resorting to shouting, time-outs, threats, punishments, or enforced consequences.

Peaceful parenting isn’t about being permissive. Parents are still the leaders, setting boundaries and guiding their children, creating a balanced and nurturing environment.

Peaceful parenting is all about empathy, non-violent communication, helping kids understand and manage their feelings, and offering a fresh and beautiful alternative approach to traditional parenting and discipline. Let’s dive into why peaceful parenting can be a game-changer for both parents and kiddos.

#1 Building super strong bonds. Forget control, peaceful parenting prioritizes connection over control. By focusing on creating warm, and nurturing connections, it helps build trust and empathy between parents and kids, giving kids a solid foundation to explore their world and feel good about themselves.

#2 Communicating, not commanding. Peaceful parenting promotes open and respectful conversations. In simple terms, no more bossing around! This helps in teaching valuable communication skills whilst also teaching kids the art of expressing feelings without fear of being judged, shamed, or criticised.

#3 Feeling the feels. We all know kids have big emotions. Instead of punishing them for expressing themselves, peaceful parenting guides them in emotion coaching. We can teach kids emotional communication skills by using emotional experiences as opportunities for connection and teaching children about feelings. When we model healthy emotion regulation, it’s like teaching them emotional superhero moves to tackle life’s challenges.

#4 High-fives for good behaviour. Say goodbye to punishments! Peaceful parenting cheers on good behaviour by recognizing and praising the behaviour. When kids feel valued, seen and appreciated, they’re more open to hearing about areas where they can improve.

#5 Independence rocks. Peaceful parenting believes in letting kids spread their wings so involves them in decisions, respects their freedom, and watches them grow with confidence and responsibility.

#6 Breaking the cycle of punitive discipline. Peaceful parenting breaks free from old-school discipline. It’s about parents reflecting on their own upbringing and choosing a kinder, more understanding approach for a happy family vibe. By the way, this doesn’t mean that we let our kids unwanted behaviour go unchecked!

#7 Learning HQ: A peaceful home is the perfect setting for learning. It sparks curiosity and a love for exploring new things. This positive vibe creates a lifelong passion for learning and self-improvement.

#8 Super glue for parent-child bonds. By putting connection and empathy front and centre, peaceful parenting strengthens the parent-child relationship. It’s like creating a secret club of love and support.

In my opinion, peaceful parenting is the superhero of parenthood. When we focus on strong bonds, effective communication, and creating a positive vibe, parents can shape a home that’s all about their kids’ well-being and growth. And guess what? The perks go beyond the family—it’s about raising little humans with hearts full of empathy, resilience, and a deep understanding of themselves and others.

So… join the peaceful parenting party and let the good vibes flow!

“If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.”

~Alfie Kohn~

Is there even such a thing as a Peaceful Parent?

You might be wondering what being a “peaceful parent” would even look like so in the words of Sarah R Moore (author of Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science & Better Behaviour, Master Trainer for the Jai Institute for Parenting, and founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting) here’s a sneak peak…

• “It’s a parent who models being human, along with all the bumps that come with that.
• It’s a parent who occasionally loses their cool but knows how to apologize and make amends when necessary.
• It’s a parent who models self-regulation and doesn’t “fly off the handle” excessively.
• It’s a parent who embraces uncertainty and grows alongside their child.
• It’s a parent who’s aware of their childhood wounds and willing to do the work to heal from them.
• It’s a parent who accepts that they don’t have all the answers about parenting and realizes the best teacher is the child in front of them.”

Does this sound like a parent you would like to be by taking tiny steps every day? 

“The miracle of Peaceful Parenting is that when we shift how we are showing up as parents, the behaviours that drive us bananas often disappear. No sticker charts required.”

 ~Kiva Schuler~

Why should you work with me as your Parenting Coach?

As your coach, I do not tell you how to parent your child. My goal as your coach is to create an empathetic, supportive, non-judgemental environment where you can openly share your emotions, parenting aspirations, challenges, and obstacles.

My intention as your coach is to hold the belief that anything is possible for you and I provide you with the support, safety, structure, motivation, and accountability to raise your children with connection, certainty, confidence, and fun.

Together, equipped with knowledge and a new understanding, we’ll work on enhancing your emotional intelligence, building strong relationships, and improving communication skills using non-violent communication to not only foster peaceful parenting but also support your personal growth and transformation.

Our focus will be on nurturing long-term connections and promoting the social and emotional development of your children, prioritizing these aspects over short-term behaviour management.

P.S. We use a parent-centric approach rather than a child-centric approach because we know that the best way to influence our child’s behaviour, is to change our own!

If you are willing to do the work, not only will you experience more peace and composure within yourself, but through modelling behaviour, your kids will also learn skills of emotional intelligence and conscious communication giving them the gifts of self-confidence, values-lead decision making, and integrity!

Here are some other benefits of taking these steps towards peaceful parenting:

• Increased satisfaction, assurance, and confidence in decisions related to parenting.
• A fresh harmony, bond, and collaborative dynamic between parent and child.
• Enhanced communication and trust within the parent-child relationship.
• Increased collaboration and cooperation when addressing family challenges.
• Improved capacity to manage their own emotional responsiveness to their kids.
• Parents understanding of child’s needs and developmental stages.
• Reduced conflict, power struggles, emotional outbursts, and yelling.
• Enhanced conduct or behaviour in children.
• Meaningful reconnection with adult children.

“Focus more on who your child is than what your child does.

Remember, you’re growing a person, not fixing a problem.”

 ~L R Knost~