07/02/2023
NEW FREE COURSE
Foundations of Calm Parenting
Face your parenting challenges with unwavering calm.
Begin parenting from a place of calm presence to create more joy, ease and confidence. Model emotional health for your child and enjoy a more deeply connected relationship.
You will learn how to recognise and meet your own needs even when life feels chaotic.
You will learn how to respond intentionally and calmly in difficult moments, instead of reacting without thinking.
You will learn how to set boundaries with confidence and empathy to strengthen your bond with your children.
You will build sustainable habits and a strong mindset to recover quickly from setbacks and mistakes.
This course is ideal for parents of children aged 0-5 whose circumstances often feel overwhelming and who wish to strengthen their ability to cope and live a more fulfilling family life even amid the chaos.
This course runs from 20th February to March 19th 2023.
You will receive:
- A weekly email containing videos to guide your learning.
- Access to a supportive Facebook group where you can ask questions and celebrate your progress.
- A weekly Q&A session.
- Worksheets to support your learning.
Ideally you will spend up to two hours per week watching the videos and Q&A, and at least a few minutes each day reflecting on the course material and practicing some of the suggested tools. The more time you can put in the more you will get out of it, however this course is designed for busy parents and my aim is to give you tools that you can use easily as part of your daily life.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/mCrRQveWuFUe7TNa8
Please share with anyone else you think may like to hear about this course.
06/02/2023
Welcome to The Whole Parent Coach ☺️
Ready to be the parent you really want to be?
Parenting is the most important job in the world, now more than ever. I truly believe that parents like you and me have the power to create a more compassionate world through the way we raise our children.
And that we can do this while absolutely loving our family life.
But sometimes it feels like a monumental task just getting through the day, doesn’t it?
Maybe you often feel bogged down by everyday stress and spend too many days just longing for bedtime.
Maybe you find it hard to manage your own emotional reactions.
Maybe you often get to the end of the day and wonder where on earth it went.
Maybe you feel depleted because your own needs never seem to even make it onto the to do list.
Maybe you are plagued by feelings of guilt or thoughts of not being enough.
Maybe you feel so confused by all the conflicting advice out there that you have lost faith in your own abilities and judgment.
You are definitely not alone. I know that I’ve felt all of these things on many occasions and that it takes consistent commitment to deal with the challenges of being a parent while still finding joy and meaning in life.
I also know that it is possible with the right support and mindset.
Here are some of things I can help with:
Balancing the needs of everyone in the family, including your own.
Recognising and managing your own triggers so you can stay calmer in the face of challenges.
Finding joy even in difficult times.
Building a deeper connection with your child.
Understanding your child's needs and behaviour.
Understanding your own hopes and goals for the future so that you can start working towards them in the present.
Prioritising your precious time for more fulfilment doing more of the things that bring you joy.
So, who am I?
Hi, I’m Natalie. I live with my husband, 4 year old boy and 1 year old girl. Both of my kids have Down syndrome and were born with significant health problems, needing a lot of medical intervention when they were small babies. Touch wood we are over the worst of it, thank goodness, though there are still various medical and developmental challenges that we face. Like many families, we’ve been through (or we’re still going through!) disrupted sleep, feeding difficulties, toileting issues, struggles with time management, struggles with staying calm etc etc. We also a have a life filled with a whole lot of love and joy, and I’d honestly say as a family we are thriving.
I have always been fascinated by what it takes for people to thrive and since my son was born this has become a full blown obsession. I’m a keen consumer of books, podcasts and courses on parenting, psychology, neuroscience and personal growth. Having supported hundreds of families as a Social Worker for over 10 years, I have now also trained as a life coach with Pure Coaching Academy. While of course I still have bad days like everyone does, what I have learnt since becoming a parent and training as a coach has transformed my mindset, confidence and ability to regulate my emotions.
Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means perfect. I don’t have it “all figured out”. I still get impatient, yell, cry and snap at times. Everyone does. What I am is committed to continuing to grow and learn. And so I cry and snap a lot less than I used to and when I do I can forgive myself and move on. It’s ok to be imperfect. (More than ok in fact, but that’s another story!).
Every family has its own unique set of needs and challenges. Our modern world makes it even harder to face them because we are all so cut off and isolated from each other. In recent decades science has taught us so much about the importance of connection, emotion, empathy and really understanding the needs behind our children’s behaviour. At times this can feel really helpful, at other times completely overwhelming if we’re feeling like we can’t give our children everything they need. Added to this it can be so confusing when a lot of parenting advice still comes from a more traditional outlook.
My goal is for parents to have everything they need to raise emotionally healthy children while living a life they love. Yes, we live in an imperfect, unequal world and our external circumstances are not always quick or easy to change. But we do have control over how we manage our own internal resources and there is a lot we can do to build these up to a point where we can enjoy a family life that is joyful and meaningful, where we can stay calm under pressure and we can have the confidence to do things our own way.
You are the expert when it comes to your children and your family. You know what is best for you and your family. You have what it takes within you to thrive as a family. Whatever your unique goals, wishes, needs and challenges, I’d love to support you in your journey
If you’d like to find out more, please send me a direct message or email me at [email protected]. Ask me anything you like, or jump right in and book a free, no obligation 30 minute chat to discuss your unique needs and how I could help. I’d love to hear from you.
