Does this sound familiar?
You have hit it. Your boiling point. The point where you want to scream or pull your hair out, or cry. You knew it was coming, the build-up was obvious: you're running late and breakfast is burning and you obviously lost your mind and dared ask your child to put on socks... You know what I'm talking about, right?
Whether it's socks, eating a vegetable, negotiating getting into their car seat/doing their school work, or navigating meltdowns in the grocery store - we've all been there. That moment when as a parent you are stretched so thin that the "right thing," the "best thing," the "good parent thing" is not what wants to come out. And immediately following that moment is shame. Shame for reacting, shame for not doing it better, shame for the judgmental looks from strangers passing by. Ugh. That feeling is the worst.
The thing is, there is no manual for how to make your wonderful, learning, growing, boundary-pushing child gleefully wear socks (or whatever your personal hurdle is). And while the prospect of a manual with step-by-step instructions for how to shape child behaviours would be appealing (right!?), what if that's not really what we need to reclaim some sanity and support our kids best? What if what we're actually looking for is something deeper: the tools to create an intentional, real, human connection with your child that allows you to overcome challenges like the socks without it ruining the day, distancing you, or sending you into a parent shame spiral?
Co-regulation starts with adults modelling self-regulation for kids. But man that's hard sometimes!!
Click below to jump to our free resources page and sign up for instant access to our free 10 minute video on 5 Things You Can Do To Stay Grounded While You Co-Regulate With Your Child. You will learn 5 key ways to stay grounded yourself while you work to model regulation to your kids.
And if you love this, we hope you'll register for the full 10 Strategies for Co-Regulation online intensive where we dive deeper into how to interpret your child's behaviour and ways to support them in the messy moments.
Are You and Your Family Struggling With...
Managing Behaviour
As parents, we want to do our best for our kids. But it can be hard to support kids well in moments of correction when their emotions are running high. Especially when you're tired, stressed and it is the ten-bazillionth time that you're addressing the same behaviour.
Keeping Your Cool
Keeping our own feelings in check can be tricky. Whether we are fighting our own upbringing, or the cruel combination of stress, exhaustion and impatience from the wear and tear of daily life, regulating ourselves can be hard.
Deepening Connection
So often it can feel like we get through the messy moments, handle the behaviours and keep our own reactions "in check"...but it didn't feel great. Everyone walks away feeling disconnected, and a little uncertain about where they stand.
Let's Talk About Co-Regulation
What is
Co-Regulation?
The term "self-regulation" will be familiar to many parents, it's the idea that we can utilize specific strategies to manage our own emotional state and behaviours to keep them within an appropriate threshold. Parents are often (annoyingly) instructed to help their kids learn to self-regulate (like "cool, but...how??).
As an extension, co-regulation is a cooperative effort at regulating alongside one another in a feedback system, and it is a fundamental skill that teaches through modelling the process of self-regulation.
Why is
Co-regulation important?
Just like parents wish for a manual...kids want one too. Co-regulation acts as a template we can hand our kids. It becomes a guidepost that they can internalize into their own bodies and brains, and kids can learn to adapt the template to meet changing demands throughout their own lives. As the template is internalized it becomes their manual for self-regulation. This is how we teach kids to develop that unicorn set of skills: self-regulation.
Right, but...
We're busy, tired & stressed!!
We know! Designed for busy families, this 45 minute online workshop goes well with a warm cup of coffee and will be over before nap time or the school day ends. We will tackle the nitty gritty so you can start applying the strategies and find connection in the messy, ASAP.
This workshop is not about creating unrealistic expectations of being the "perfect parent". We'll dive into practical strategies for real parenting-in-the-trenches. No facades, no perfection - completely unfiltered, shame-free and totally real.
This Course Will Help You To...
Get Curious
Take on the role of emotional detective. Learn the things to look for and get curious about what is going on for you and your child.
Feel Empowered
Let's get real, parenting will never be perfect - but that's kind of perfect. Be empowered to be real, supportive and connected.
Grow Connection
Discover ways to use the hard moments to build connection and thrive instead of falling into disconnection and hurt.
Created by Child & Family Therapist, and Mom-In-The-Trenches:
Karen Peters
Karen and her husband are parents of two kids, 9 and 12 years old, who have very different personalities from one another making parenting an interesting challenge at times. Sibling dynamics, negotiating how needs can be met, navigating their unique stages of development, and balancing family needs with work demands have helped Karen to understand things from the inside of the story.
She has also worked with children and parents for 30+ years; in recreational and educational summer programming, in daycare settings, teaching music and mental health group programming for kids in elementary and middle schools, as a therapist and provincial quality analyst with B.C.'s Child & Youth Mental Health program, and in private practice.
She's been passionate about education, prevention and early intervention with kids her whole career. In addition to completing her Master's degree in Counselling Psychology with a focus on child development and family dynamics, she has engaged in ongoing training for the last 20 years, adding current and relevant tools to her helping toolkit.
Grow Connection in the Messy, and Give Your Kids Tools For Life...
(And Restore a Bit of Parental Sanity!)
Condensed into one value-packed 45 minute intensive, you will learn 4 key truths about parenting, and 10 specific, do-able strategies to support yourself and your kids in the thick of the tough stuff. These tools are for parents who want to find connection in the messy, sticky, chaotic real-ness of life with kids.
Reviewed & Endorsed By
gather, learn & grow together
Part of the Living Room Learning Series
You think this course looks great? Check out the family-friendly series of wellness tools created by experienced child and family therapist, Karen Peters. Dive into topics that impact families like yours. Allow Karen to join you in your living room, and support your family in learning and growing together.
Wanting More Parenting-Related Resources?
Check out the Parenting in the Trenches podcast - including special series dedicated to covering early parenthood topics.
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to be part of a community of parents committed to showing up in all the real, messy, sticky glory of parenthood.
