Parenting Blog

"Sometimes I feel like all I do is criticize and nag my children and husband--and myself!"  -- Heather

"Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions." – Hafiz

Whenever you criticize yourself,  judge yourself, comment that something you did was dumb...
That’s your inner critic. 

We all have one. Its job is to protect us.  It just goes about it the wrong way.

Go under the criticism, and you’ll find fear.  But fear doesn't motivate us, it disables us. When you react to your child from fear, worry, or anxiety, you lose your empathy and compassion.  You can't make good parenting decisions.

Want to transform your inner critic?

1. Pay attention.  Just being more mindful of your thoughts and automatic reactions allows you to challenge them.  Daily meditation transforms the inner critic, but even simple mindfulness calms it.

2. Take a deep breath to prevent yourself from going into "fight or flight."  Remind yourself that this isn't an emergency. 

3. Befriend it. Next time the attack starts, thank your inner critic for trying to take care of you. Ask for your inner critic’s help to problem-solve instead of blame: “What can I do to make good things happen now?”  

These three steps will help you transform your inner critic into your inner “Good Parent.”  We ALL need one of those inside us.