Does Self-Awareness Make Us Better Parents?

This book changed my life, The Conscious Parent, by Dr. Shefali Tsabary.

As a new parent of two young children, I found myself post-partum, yelling at my kids way too often and miserable because of it.

Have you ever felt this way?

Tsabary says, “If we are in a state of agitation, frustration, or fatigue, chances are we are going to botch the disciplining process.”

I found this book because I was seeking a better way to communicate with my kids and what I learned empowered me and my children.

I discovered that as a parent my job isn’t to instruct or teach from the top down, rather it is to be their Guide. And as I show them the way by leading by example, I can learn a lot from the innate wisdom that each child brings to life.

Tsabary’s theory in The Conscious Parent, challenges parents to heal their emotional wounds, triggers, and inner child so that they may show up as healthy role models and care givers for their children. This led me to a commitment to quit drinking, take up a daily yoga practice, start paying better attention to my health. This decision catapulted my spiritual growth and awakened my sleeping consciousness.

I noticed that my children became happier because I was happier. Self-care when you are a new parent isn’t at top of mind during your sleepless nights and constant baby care. But my babies woke me up to the reason I was alive in the first place! Yes, I am a mom, but I am so much more than that.

Stepping back from the daily drudge of diapers, and giving myself permission to take 15 minutes for yoga and meditation every day, somehow helped me begin to enjoy the crying, falls, and stinky messes that come along with being a parent. By slowing down and allowing myself to meet the kids where they are, I found more glimmers in their eyes, and in mine too.

Tsabary suggests “This means we parent our children as our children are, not as we might wish them to be. It requires accepting our children in their as is form.” It also means accepting myself “as is.” This really leads to unconditional love. Which is the ultimate state we wish to feel as humans of all ages.

The Conscious Parent, has helped me realize that I don’t have to DO something to be a parent. I AM a mom and that’s all I need to be. Just being there is enough for them. Respect is a two-way street and I choose to honor my children as wisdom holders who are here on their own individual paths. It doesn’t matter how things were when I was a kid, that isn’t happening now. Our kids now have brand new problems to face, and I am here to light their way as they fear any darkness on their paths to the future.

With a preface by the Dalai Lama, the wisdom in The Conscious Parent, can break generational karmic cycles. If you are interested in Mindfullness and you are a parent or plant to be one, this book is worth reading for you.

Does Conscious Parenting interest you? Leave a comment and let me know why?