Linda Newlin
www.GrowingUpWhole.com

What do children really need?  

I dare say it's WHOLENESS. Yes, it's wholeness.

Children need to know that they are whole just as they are and they need to feel whole within themselves.  

As parents we are often focused on what they need to fix and do differently. This can erode away their sense of "I'm Ok, even if I'm learning how to be in the world and learning all these things about life."

Our challenge as parents is to balance our corrective input with connective input.
How can we help our children stayed connected and feeling whole inside?

What is wholeness really?

It is many things:  

• self confidence
• health and well being
• a sense of belonging
• resilience (ability to bounce back from hard times)

What does wholeness feel like?

It can feel like peace, strength, groundedness, joy, ease, and flow.

How do we cultivate wholeness in our children?   

One way is to validate their uniqueness and mirror it back to them. When a child is grounded in who they are and what their unique gifts are they can shine their light in the world and navigate life with much more ease.

Developing a practice of focusing on what is right with our children and who they are provides a foundation of acceptance and self-esteem that will help them navigate life's difficult passages. 

This can take the form of a validation ritual where you encourage them to acknowledge things they have done well each day and to instill this as a self - loving practice to sustain them through life.


Linda Newlin is a coach, author, teacher, consultant and parent who is passionate about authenticity, wholeness, sustainability and self-love. See her secret to being whole at www.GrowingUpWhole.com or Amazon.com for her books and music. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com