It’s not about being a good parent or a bad parent, are you a conscious parent? Many of you are wondering what I mean by this. It means being present with your child and his feelings and needs. It is about listening carefully to what your child is saying or not saying. It is about leaving your history and background at the back door and attempting to be aware of who your child really is. Not who you want him/her to be. Yes, not easy believe me.
I was in the library looking for an audio-book that would inspire me and challenge me. I came upon the book, “The Conscious Parent.” I believe I was a good mother but was I a conscious one? My journey of self-discovery began when my children were young but already a product of their environment. Parenting was about providing them with essentials, love and structure. I was not a conscious parent as this book describes. I began listening and with every chapter Shefali Tsabary opened my awareness to the fact that if only I had had this book. It is by far the best parenting book I have ever experienced and in my work, I have read many. It is honest, real, and just so wise. Yes, it is about emotional intelligence and she uses the 7 attributes in every paragraph but it is much more.
I write a great deal about emotional intelligence and raising our new generation of children with the skills that promote it. My dream for children is about giving them the skills to be able to emotionally take care of themselves wherever they are. This is what I needed when I was faced with the challenges of being different than my peers. The inability to manage those negative thoughts and feelings hindered my ability to rise above them and stand with me. Those voices controlled my actions and my choices. This is why I am so passionate about children having the EQ skills that will allow them to move through the world with a knowing that they are good, lovable and powerful.
Yet, parenting is complex and challenges us each and every day to be better than the next. Our children are our teachers and we are their guides. If you want the very best for your children, read this book. Use this book as a guide to help you ride those waves of unknowing and what to do. I loved listening to Shefali read the book to me. It was as if we were together for this important lesson and that we were important comrades in helping our children become the best they can be.
The Concious Parent
EQ for Children Website