Parenting Narratives: Reflection as a Path to Healthier Parenting

In This Episode:As children, many of us said to ourselves, “When I’m a parent, I’ll never do that to my kids!” And yet, here we are, doing exactly what we said we’d never do. So, how can we reflect on what we want to carry forward and what we ought to leave behind? What narratives underlie those automatic behaviors we fall into, especially at times of stress?     •Do as I say, not as I do?     •I need to fix this for you?     •The parent always knows best?     •A good mother always puts her children first; “me time” is selfish?In this week’s podcast, Marti & Erin welcome Nathan Fink, Senior Director of New Hampshire Children’s Trust and father of two young sons, to join them in a lively discussion of their own parenting narratives and behaviors and how they are still learning to build new and healthier ways. Tune in and then do a little reflection on how you’re doing in your own parenting journey, whatever your stage of life. There’s always room for improvement, right? REFLECTING ON YOUR OWN PARENTING NARRATIVEThink of a parenting behavior you do not want to carry forward. What are the underlying narratives behind that behavior, the often-unspoken messages in your brain that trigger unwanted automatic behavior, especially when you are tired, stressed or your child is going through a particularly challenging time? Try to write a more positive or healthy narrative, practice saying it to yourself, and then try to remember it next time you feel yourself getting off track. (Marti especially liked Nathan Fink’s narrative that he is trying to remember: “Put down the critic, pick up the coach.”)