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T here is no handbook for raising about and where they can serve. Of to worry about the past and future)

and how to live with a sense of ease
children and yet the process
course, the major challenge here

to get a tertiary qualification,

a drivers license or married is that we, as parents, are not fully and confidence that only comes from
actualised. Many of us are still bound
embracing our true creative nature.
requires time and money spent in by past conditioning and a narrow view
preparation to attain these things. of the world. This is one of the main Love less
Anyone can have children, regardless causes of conflict between parents and Who doesn’t love holding a newborn

of their education, wealth or status. children. Parenting is not about doing baby? Having something in our arms that
So how do we create a world that is lots of things for our kids. It is about is so innocent and fragile connects to a
conducive for children to be born into being an example and mentor and very primal force within us - the need
and what are the principles to live by? allowing them to make mistakes, and to nurture and/or to leave a legacy.
learn accountability and responsibility, Love is something that is often
This is where Conscious Parenting because this is what makes pleasant, misinterpreted as security, flattery,

comes in. It is first and foremost a deep trustworthy, self-motivated people. infatuation or the need to feel needed.

look into ourselves, not as parents, The more we do, the less they can. Perhaps it was from a need to be
but as individuals. With our past, our loved that we smother, or from a
behaviours, our habitual patterns and Teach less need to be heard that we become
our upbringing, can we raise children Children are born mostly unhindered overbearing, or from a need for power
to be self-aware, independent and and naturally curious even though that we become the dictators in our
generally good people? The answer science has discovered that there homes, or perhaps from a traumatic
is yes, but it takes work - inner work. are certain neuro-chemical traits childhood that we lash out - and all
that newborns inherit from their this in the name of love. Then perhaps
I’ve outlined 3 important concepts parents, as well as experiences from if we had to love a little less, we can
of what it means to be a Conscious the mother during pregnancy. But all create some space between our inner-
Parent. Some of these might be things going well, babies are generally demons and our children. After all,
completely contrary to what you incredibly tuned in to themselves our children are not our property.
think and will challenge you as they and the environment. They have not
did me. But to see things clearly, we learned fear and self-doubt so they We have done well as a parent

first need to clean and demystify are free to be exactly who they need when our children learn to become
our lens or view of the world. to be. Unfortunately, many of us have responsible for themselves.
come from families and cultures where
Do less children are seen, not heard, and we Conscious parenting is a purposeful
As parents, we - more often than not - need to be taught how to change journey of recognising and
want to give our children a better life our perspective into something overcoming our fears and failures,
than what we have, or had. So we give that will suit the ideals and lifestyles and then becoming a more
more of our time, money and energy, we want. From past generations complete and fulfilled person whilst

and we consider ourselves fortunate to today, the cycle continues… bringing up and supporting our
to be able to do this; to give the next children to then become complete
generation a better footing in life. The What if we changed our perspective and fulfilled people in turn.

intentions are always good and pure, from command-and-control and
but sometimes we are blinded by the tapped into the wisdom that children All the best on your journey.
fear, hurt or lack we experienced, so can offer us? If we give them a chance,

we overcompensate in our actions. they can remind us of some of the If you have any questions or wish
Ultimately, the best thing any parent most valuable lessons in life - like how to explore this concept further,
can do for their child(ren) is to give to love unconditionally (nobody does feel free to contact me at
them the space to unfold and discover that better than a child), how to be michelle@achievegreatness.co.za or
who they are, what they are passionate present (children have not learnt how visit www.achievegreatness.co.za.

Waterfall Issue 3 2020 35