Brain Science
Understand what happens when stress makes it difficult for a child to think, communicate, or choose differently.
My story
I knew the kind of mom I wanted to be.
When I was raising my four children, I had a clear picture of the kind of mom I wanted to be. I wanted my children to feel safe bringing their emotions to me. I wanted to listen, guide, and respond with patience.
But knowing what I valued and knowing how to live those values in a difficult moment were not always the same thing.
When I was overwhelmed or triggered, I did not always know how to manage my own emotions, let alone help my children with theirs. I did not need more pressure to get everything right. I needed help understanding what was happening beneath the surface—in my children and in me.
During 18 years of homeschooling, I also saw how differently my four children learned, communicated, and responded to pressure. That experience taught me to become curious about the person underneath the behavior.
That gap between the parent we want to be and the way we sometimes respond is not proof that we are failing. It is an invitation to become more aware.