Trauma-Informed Parenting

In this episode, I talk about three things that I wish I had known about FASD. I got my first bit of education about prenatal alcohol exposure through a conversation with my aunt, who was a nurse. She shared some of the physical anomalies an infant suffered because of alcohol exposure prenatally. I was a young mom of one child at the time. Little did I know, that ten years and two more bio kids later, I would adopt a sibling group of four who all suffered from the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I travel down memory lane and share the first of three things I wish I had known about FASD. 

Grab your free chapter - Why Traditional Parenting Doesn't Work (And What Does Work) on Trauma-Informed Parenting. (just click the button at the top of the page)

We have ways of parenting that were handed down to us. Maybe you recently found out your child has a Capital Letter Syndrome, or you foster, or recently adopted kiddos and your current parenting isn't working anymore.

Have you heard this? You just need to discipline your child more!

Then this is for you!

I tried traditional parenting for years and it backfired.

You can relearn parenting for the sake of your child.

Isn't the goal to connect with your child? Raise a child with coping mechanisms. Children can grow into adults with a purpose and be more comfortable in their own skin. Everyone has value. Paren them by coming alongside them.

She isn't (and never be) a perfect parent. We need to let go of the myth that perfect parents exist. We can be proactive parents. We can be parents who re-parent.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Kathleen as she shares why traditional parenting doesn't work. 

 When it comes to parenting or working with kiddos with a trauma history or Capital Letter Syndrome, what's your biggest struggle?

One of the respondents to a survey I sent out answered - "Why Isn't My Child Not Listening?" which inspired this series.

Often the kiddo can't listen, not won't. They are not being defiant.

What does your child need to regulate so that they can listen (better.)

If your child has a trauma history and/or a Capital Letter Syndrome-

Schedules are comforting. If the schedule changes, don't expect your child to be able to regulate or listen.

When a child is in survival mode, fight, flight, or freeze, your change can't listen. You must arrange the environment to suit what he needs.

*Try using a wake word with your child such as their name. Pause. Repeat Pause. 

Your child may not be listening because he is tired, hungry, or thirsty. A child with a trauma history or Capital Letter Syndrome - does not recognize her own body's signals for hunger, thirst, or need to go to the bathroom. If their needs were a cellphone - it would be on silent.

There is so much meat in this short coffee break podcast! 

Guest Tina Hamilton is a former middle school teacher turned parent coach. She supports parents along their personal healing journey so they can raise their children without passing down generations of pain and failed messaging. You can learn more and jumpstart your healing journey today by downloading Stop Yelling, Start Connecting – a free guide to forming a deeper connection with your child.

Tina shares 3 Tips To Decentering-

"When your children are having a difficult time or experiencing big emotions, you have to decenter yourself. This means to take yourself out of the equation – this is not about you. Your child does not hate you. Your child does not wish you were dead. They are pushing up against you because they themselves are feeling completely out of control. They need a safe place to land."

Grab a cup of coffee and listen and learn. Tina has a lot of wisdom and more importantly some super helpful tips to help you connect with your kiddos.

Going off on a tangent in this series - felt-safety, training, and investment parenting - all promote (better) listening.

Schedules are secure. It gives your kiddo a sense of comfort or felt safety.

I'm veering into a tangent on "practicing out the moment" or "training." 

Training is showing your kiddo what to do beforehand so she knows how to do it.

This is investment parenting. It takes time. If you want your child to listen (better) you must invest in them.

 Grab a  cup of coffee and listen as Kathleen shares some training practices (which include eating M and Ms, games, and fun activities).

Why isn't my child listening and what can I do about it? 

This is a common question and one asked by a respondent to a survey I sent out to my email list - Why isn't my child listening? She felt as if she is repeating herself over and over.

If we understand our children better, we can help them by changing the environment and what our expectations are when it comes to listening.

Does your child have an auditory processing disorder? ADD? ADHD? FASD? SPD? On the spectrum? If so your child may have difficulty processing information - i.e. difficulty listening.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Kathleen as she discusses practical tips and tools to help you help your kiddos.

Trauma-Informed Parenting Podcast is back after a year and a half break! I'm so excited to be back! In this episode, I share a little of my story. Plus answer these questions -

What is the Trauma-Informed Parenting Podcast about?

Who is it for? 

What is a Capital Letter Syndrome and how is having one trauma? 

Grab a cup of coffee and join me on this coffee break podcast!