Friday, February 05, 2010

Therapeutic Parenting - The Power of Being Present


Rachie317 said...

Christine, this may be the most important piece of information for parents trying to help and heal their children. JUST BE THERE. When that child is hurting (which often involves being hurtFUL) - just be there. Quietly. Lovingly. Patiently. BE THERE.

Thank you for describing just how meaningful it was for Mar!

Unknown said...

hey- this is great- do you mind if i post the link on my's very helpful.

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness, loved this! Now, when is your post on how to handle when they are looking for a fight and manipulating with every breathe of air! LOL!

Hannah_Rae said...

Awesome! Favorite one yet. :)

Oh, and the DVD series is FINALLY back in stock.

Here's to being there. CHEERS!



Kerrie said...

"I wonder what SOMEBODY ELSE would do?" I LOVE that!!!!

I'm good with the mouth shut thing the first day, but by the third day of "I don't understand that math answers are numbers and not words" I have to leave the room or eat something to not give her the battle. So. Hard!

I love these parenting tips because Alexis seems to be about a year behind Marah. I can see where I'm going.

Marty Walden said...

I find it so hard because after 10 years my kids are healing and we get into a good run, and then boom we're off track. Trying to figure out what in the world triggers it sometimes makes me crazy. And then there are the battles over school. What is normal "I don't want to do it" and what is RAD "you can't make me". Can you just come live with us?

Dawn said...

I LOVE these videos!! They are so helpful!!

Question for you, you say when you first started noticing she was getting dysregulated, you went about preparing lunch, etc. Do you think it would have made a difference if you had gone and sat by her right when you first noticed her behavior escalating? I'm just curious because when mine get dysregulated, my first instinct is to ignore what I know is happening (usually because I'm tired of it) and first get myself regulated and I'm wondering if this is worse for them.

Just would love your thoughts on this. :)

Unknown said...

Tracey, use them however the heck you want!

ManyBlessings, it totally depends on the day (minute!). On this particular day, I had to give myself time, as well as make sure everyone go their lunch. He had spent most of the day trying to hog all the Mom attention. So, I got them all set up first ... I still needed a bit of a break ... fed myself, re-energized and THEN I was ready to go sit. Sounds funny, but I know you know - sometimes it is emotionally exhausting to just sit there. :)

BT said...

This is a good good good one! You're right. It is sooooo important. I needed the reminder to just keep my mouth shut more of the time.

Your descriptions about how our kids react to therapeutic parenting are so right on the money. You could be living my life!

Anonymous said...

I'm a new reader. I found your blog through one of those rabbit hole clicks from one blog to the next and when I landed here, you gave me hope!

I'm a relatively new foster parent. I have a three year old who has lived with us for 5 months and will be with us, likely longer. I haven't known what to do to help him, or who to ask. I've yelled and fought and cried, etc. You have given me a place to start and we are already seeing improvement (both of us!!!) and I'm so thankful for these vlogs!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Jessica Lynn said...

this is so very true, it is so hard to walk away. By the way, I have been using the whispering thing instead of getting loud with my little Jaylin. However, she says it gives her a headache!

Anonymous said...

Came back to watch this again after a very hard day.