Parent Coaching
Why Coaching?
I sometimes think about what I imagine it was like for my parents or my grandparents to raise their children. I remember chatting with a mom-friend when our babies were infants and we were trying to help them sleep better, and she said she had asked her own mother how she had done it when she and her siblings were young. Her mom looked blank for a moment and then said, "I don't know. . . a lot of back rubs?"
I still laugh at this because I think it illustrates both how different we are as parents today, and also how much we (and I definitely include myself in this) sometimes complicate our own work as parents by hunting everywhere for the right answers to our parenting questions.
Questions are wonderful. Information is wonderful, too. And, the amount of information we have at our fingertips these days can drive us batty when we're looking for The Answers to our parenting questions.
Sometimes we need a thinking partner in this work of parenting—someone who is not our partner-in-life or a family member.
This is what I offer: to be your steady arm in the crowded street of parenting advice, when you’re not sure which way to turn.
I certainly don't profess to have all The Answers. No one does. What I help you do is connect to your values and vision for how you want to parent. From that place of connection, we can discover together the best tools and techniques for your style and your family.
You've probably done some reading, looked online, perhaps even listened to some podcasts for help. The amount of information—and the fact that it can often be conflicting—can be so confusing. That is why it is my job is to help you access the wisdom and authenticity that is already present within you about how to parent in alignment with who you are and what you want for your family.
When Coaching Can Help
I know from experience that, despite our best intentions as parents, we sometimes end up feeling that we have lost our way. Even the calmest, most committed parents face challenges with their parenting from time to time. It takes serious commitment and hard work to show up for your family every day—to be loving, compassionate, and patient for other people when our own needs are just as great.
It might be the yelling. Or the limit testing. The deluge of big feelings—your own or your child's. Whatever is pushing your buttons, having someone to partner with as you work to shift your habitual responses or try new approaches can be enormously supportive.
Or maybe you haven't lost your way. Maybe you could simply use a little extra support to stay committed to being the parent you know you can be. This can happen particularly around transitions—things like becoming a new parent, sleep changes, the birth of another child, weaning, or the start of toddlerhood.
I do not believe that there is only one "good" way to parent, or only one answer to any challenge. That is why I offer you tools that will help you lay the foundation for a respectful and loving relationship with your child and partner that will grow with you as your family grows and changes. I am committed to helping you improve your communication with your child, shift challenging behaviors—your own your child's—and to supporting you in finding more ease and joy in being a parent.
If this resonates with you, reach out to me to talk about your needs and whether I might be able to support you.
How I Can Support You
I love to support you in any aspect of parenting your children that feels challenging, from birth through the elementary school years. Coaching can help you access tools, resources, and the state of mind you need to:
Parent in alignment with your values and vision for your family
Respond to your child’s big feelings and tantrums
Manage discipline challenges like hitting, defiance, aggression, or sibling conflicts effectively and respectfully, without relying on shame or punishment
Weather transitions to a new caregiver, school, home, or sibling joining the family
Learn how to communicate with your child(ren) in ways that foster an open dialogue, build compassion, and increase harmony
Get on the same page as your partner when you parent
Discover ways to calm and center yourself when you feel triggered by your child
Find more ease and joy in your parenting
If you have questions or would like to discuss your particular situation, I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with me. I look forward to connecting with you and learning about your family.
