| When I began my career as a parenting coach | | | | kids stem from issues with the parents. What do |
| over six years ago, my aim was to share my | | | | I mean by that? My instincts have guided me to |
| expertise and 20 years experience in parenting | | | | always look deeper into the context of the |
| and child development. I'd learned so much | | | | "problem" behavior. What's going on in the home? |
| throughout my years of study, working with | | | | How much attention is the child receiving? What is |
| children and being a parent, I wanted to share | | | | the quality of the relationship between Mom and |
| what I knew with other parents. Parenting, as far | | | | Dad? Is there a need for control on the part of |
| as I'm concerned is the most important job you'll | | | | one of the parents that the child is reacting to? |
| ever have. As Virginia Satir tells us, "Parents teach | | | | Are one or both parents reacting against their |
| in the toughest school in the world, the school for | | | | own upbringing? |
| making people." | | | | Often parents who were brought up in an abusive |
| Prior to becoming a coach, I had spent 20 years | | | | environment are determined their kids won't |
| as a workshop presenter, teaching parents about | | | | experience the same thing, so they become |
| democratic parenting. That is parenting that | | | | permissive and don't establish clear boundaries. |
| provides clear, concise boundaries but allows | | | | Kids who have inconsistent boundaries will |
| children a voice, within those boundaries. I | | | | constantly test to find out what the boundaries |
| expected that when I began coaching privately I | | | | really are. Often parents are consumed with guilt |
| would be sharing the same strategies, only one on | | | | because of the number of hours they spend at |
| one. My clients would present an issue to me and | | | | work so they try and compensate by spending |
| together we would discuss alternatives to | | | | more money on their kids than they would if they |
| punishment and more democratic approaches to | | | | were at home more. These are just a few of the |
| parenting. My training in life coaching has given me | | | | issues parents present that can be major |
| the skills to ask provocative questions and listen | | | | contributing factors to their children's problematic |
| to not only what a client says, but what they | | | | behavior. When we address our own issues, we |
| don't say. | | | | almost always see a dramatic change in our kids' |
| Through my years coaching parents, I've learned | | | | behavior. |
| that the majority of the time problems with the | | | | |