Welcome to the vibrant world of Connected Parenting, where love, discipline, and respect share the spotlight. If you’ve journeyed here from my previous article on “What is Connected Parenting?“—fantastic! You’re primed and ready. But if you’ve stumbled upon this oasis through the vast internet cosmos, I encourage you to set the stage by diving into that article first for the perfect context.
By the time you reach the end of this read, you’ll grasp three key points:
1. How to kickstart your Connected Parenting journey.
2. Uncover the essence of One Connected Family.
3. Take that crucial first step toward creating your very own sweet, connected family.
How to kickstart your Connected Parenting journey
So, you might be a stranger to the term Connected Parenting, but you were drawn here because those two words resonated with you at some level. I’m glad it did!
Or it’s possible you’ve heard of similar concepts like Gentle Parenting & Positive Parenting and got curious about how Connected Parenting is different. Indeed, Connected Parenting is rooted in Positive and Gentle Parenting Principles, but here’s the twist.
Connected Parenting goes beyond the child-centric focus of its counterparts. It embraces a holistic and integrated approach, considering every facet influencing child development and parenting. Picture this: for optimal child development, the environment is key. And no, it’s not just the physical space your child resides in—it’s about the emotional and relational environment crafted by the people within it.
Who are the prime architects of this environment? You and your significant other i.e. your partner/s in parenting, be it your spouse, parents, in-laws, nanny, or any other invaluable support in your child’s upbringing.
Connected Parenting is the art of crafting One Connected Family, one day at a time. It’s honing in on the three vital pillars of your family: You, Your Child, and Your Partner(s) in parenting. It’s about weaving connections, strengthening bonds, and creating an environment where love, discipline, and respect are not just words but the very fabric of your family’s tapestry.
How to create a Connected Family
A Connected Family stands on 3 pillars:
- Connecting with your child/ren
- Connecting with yourself
- Connecting with your parenting partner/s
Of these 3 pillars, which one do you feel is the most crucial one? Most Moms I know would say “Connecting with your child” is the most important aspect. But I disagree!
I’d say – being completely connected with yourself is the critical foundation of your family, which then allows you to connect with your child & your parenting partners effectively. Putting yourself in the most important position sounds selfish, doesn’t it? But not if you realize that by ensuring you’re completely grounded, peaceful and content every single day, you are in a better position to do and be your best for your child, and also partner more effectively with other members of the family. Now, that isn’t selfish, right? Taking care of yourself FIRST to be able to take care of others is the most selfless act I know!
So, here’s how One Connected Family looks:
This is our vision. This is the goal we’re working towards. Together, we’ll discover and work on the foundation & the pillars to create your dream home & family, that’s astounding, adorable & unbreakable.
Taking the 1st crucial step towards creating your own connected family
Now, that you have a clear vision for your family – it’s natural to feel a bit scared & clueless about how to achieve this grand vision. The first step always feels daunting. Let me make it easier for you.
Tell me, which one of these resonates with you the MOST, at this moment? Pick just ONE.
- I want to connect more deeply with my child and learn positive ways to discipline them.
- I want to master calm & consistent ways to respond to my child without losing my temper.
- I want to communicate better with my spouse & other family members to create a loving parenting environment for my child.
Say, you choose #1 – then scroll down to Section # 1: Connecting with your child where I’ve laid down for you the basic first steps that will help you get started in the right direction to achieve this goal. Same goes for #2 and #3.
So, to kickstart this transformative journey, let’s dive in one connection at a time!
1. Connecting with your child
If you think I’m going to give you a long list of things you can do to truly connect with your child and get the obedience you desire, I’m sorry to disappoint. The truth is you already know. The sad truth is that somehow you’ve got disconnected from the part inside you that knows exactly what to do & say to have a loving relationship with your child. And that’s why I’m here to help you re-activate your maternal instincts with a gentle nudge & a push in the right direction with all the right information.
Connected Parenting is about consistently recognizing, acknowledging & meeting our child’s fundamental physical & emotional needs through positive, respectful & meaningful communication.
If you’re a Mom to 1-5 year old, I’d urge you to go here for a compilation of the best resources on raising a toddler with love & discipline. You can start with this one – 8 ways to connect with your toddler in 0-20 mins & Decoding your toddler’s behavior.
If you’re like me, and you want to make sure you know everything you need to know about Toddler Parenting so you can ace it – then this is your go-to-resource – The Ultimate Toddler Parenting Course. You must give it a shot, because Moms who’ve done the course are reaping its benefits even today!
2. Connecting with yourself
You feel everything revolves around your child. But when you really think deeply, YOU are the centre of your family’s universe. Your child looks up to YOU for love & guidance. Your parenting partner looks up to YOU for guidance & support. To give you evidence of how true this is, all you need to do is recall a time when you fell sick. Didn’t everything in your house fall apart?? That’s why, I want you to give yourself the importance you deserve.
Connected Parenting is about recognizing, acknowledging & meeting our own physical, mental & emotional needs before or at least along with meeting those of our child & family members. It is about being connected with our thoughts & emotions, and being a master at channelizing them in useful ways. If this is an area in your life that needs work, I’d recommend that you join the waitlist for my upcoming course & coaching: Master your Emotions, and we’ll work on it together!
3. Connecting with your parenting partner
Parenting is not meant to be a solo act. Since ages, little children have been raised in villages, where a community of loving & caring adults raised children as One Connected Family! But, in times that we’re living in, we’re more isolated & lonelier than ever. And it’s not healthy for you or your child. That’s why, I want to encourage you to build your village. Find your partners in parenting. It can be your spouse, your parents, in-laws, nanny, friend or whoever is willing to support your parenting journey. Remember, there’s no trophy for braving this journey all alone, and there’s no shame is getting all the help you need!
If you’re struggling in this area, trying to do it all by yourself, stuck in old patterns of poor communication with your spouse & other family members, then consider joining the waitlist for my upcoming workshop called “Communicate Effectively with your Partner in Parenting”.
Like they say, Rome was not built in a day. And so is a family!
Creating your own loving & connected family is a goal WE will work towards one day at a time, everyday. Be assured, one tiny insight with one tiny action in the right direction EVERYDAY is all you need to transform your parenting journey. So, make sure you connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn & Youtube – @oneconnectedfamily – where I share these tidbits of valuable practical parenting insights that you can easily apply in your daily parenting situations. I’ll be waiting to meet you there!
Till next time! Stay Connected!