Parenting your child, reparenting yourself
Remember how much you wanted to have a baby? Children? (maybe a long time ago?) It was going to be amazing and you were going to be so happy together! However, after the baby arrived, she started to show all sorts of thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and more that you never really thought about having to deal with!
You’ve read self-help and parenting books, received advice, trying hard to be a good parent and do this parenting the ‘right’ way, because you love your child(-ren) dearly, and you want them to be happy, self-confident and resilient in life. But it’s hard, and you’re just so tired. Life is busy, and you’re feeling overwhelmed and under pressure. It’s starting to take its toll on you. You’re tired of the arguing, the ongoing challenges, on how you yourself are being with them, saying or doing things to your children that make you feel bad about yourself, but; ‘’what else can I do?’’
I hear you. It IS hard to look after your child (-ren), while feeling you have to look after so many other things: your partner, family, friends, career, house, and -especially- yourself… the list can feel endless, and life overwhelming.
What if I told you it doesn’t have to be like this? What if I told you that you can feel good and calm again, about you as a parent, as a partner, as your own person? That there really is a ‘good’ way to parent? It’s a way that is unique and personal to you and your family, and takes care of what is truly important to you. A way that both you and your child enjoy, builds up your child’s self-confidence and your own? A way that you will find through self-love, self-compassion, self-care, (re-)connection with yourself and your child. By being kind and brave, allowing both you and your child to grow into confident, empowered and joyful people…
How can you get started?
You can start by downloading the free guide 6 Steps to avoid a Battle which shows you a way that honours your boundaries and builds their self-confidence.
Asking for help is a brave first step to take. I understand it is very important for you to feel safe to talk to someone and accept help. You are welcome to find out more about me and how I work to help parents.
Clare’s experience:
“Working with Elma has really been life-changing on how I am with the kids. I was so tired, busy and thinking “Where is the joy in this?” Since our sessions I’ve put my boundaries down and been sticking to them; No is no, instead of giving in. The workshops have given me awareness and so much understanding in my own behaviour and how it impacts the kids’ behaviour. It taught me patience, parenting through understanding and working together rather than telling them what to do, yelling and being confrontational. And it brought me much more enjoyment in being a parent, instead of feeling it to be constantly stressful, tiring and a battle of wills. Elma is very understanding and because she is a Mum herself she can relate to the challenges and issues we have in being parents. She’s not about telling you how to be a parent, but about helping you decide how you want to be as a parent for yourself. I’ve learned that I could be the parent I wanted to be and not having to be the parent I’m supposed to be. I don’t have to compare myself with other mums and try to be who they are. I can now be the Mum I want to be with my own values and this makes me so much happier as a Mum and as a person.“
Clare, mother of 2, Northern Ireland (UK)
Imperfect Parenting 