Tuning In to Natural Parenting
I’d like to introduce Daniela, the owner of Blend for Kids in Branford, and a new contributor joining kidHaven. My very first post on kidHaven was actually about Dani. As I wrote, “(When I moved to Connecticut) Daniela was the first friend I met and made a connection. But as it turns out, this is her special gift to everyone. She is the kind of person that looks you in the eyes, really listens and genuinely connects with you. You’ll see.”
Dani joins kidHaven to share thoughts about parenting, among other things. Look for her once a month on kidHaven. In the meantime, please give Dani a warm welcome with a few comments!
Written by Daniela Balzano Fenton
As the owner of a children’s oriented business, I am constantly exposed to the most extreme variations of parenting. These wide-ranged methods of raising a child not only cause me to analyze the psychology of affection and discipline, but also to reflect on my own mothering. I occasionally witness a parent responding to her child in a way that makes me feel inspired. I once heard a mother remind her child to ‘make good choices’ as her disgruntled son attempted to snatch a small wooden truck from his friend’s hands. Her words made me feel good, as if her means of instruction was “right”. Her dialouge had a subtle firmness. It was direct, yet lovingly executed. I also, in contrast, have felt ill towards certain harsh words that have been directed towards children. While I am not one to be overly sensitive to the energy of intense disciplinarians, there are certain terms and statements that are just bad mojo. I try not to judge, and I remind myself that we are all products of different environments, and we all have had our misused moments as parents. Nevertheless, it is in witnessing these moments that I am reminded of how I do not want to treat my own children.
I believe there are no rights or wrongs in parenting so long as our intentions are truly for the well being of our children. I can’t help but think that a key element of parenting is just about tuning in to the moments that our actions feel right, and learning from the times that they feel wrong.
