264 Handling Behavior Struggles with Dignity, with Wendy Snyder

This time on Beautifully Complex, I'm exploring behavior struggles and conscious discipline with my guest, Wendy Snyder, a positive parenting educator and family life coach. We discuss how understanding behaviors as communication changes our perspective, helping us view challenges as signals of need and teaching opportunities.

Join us as we dive into how creating a sense of belonging and safety at home allows our kids to thrive under our guidance. Wendy shares her expertise on managing our own triggers and approaching parenting with empathy and intention. Tune in for practical advice to help you be the parent your kids need.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Understanding and Connection are Crucial: It's vital to understand that children's challenging behaviors are often a form of communication. Approaching these behaviors with empathy and striving to connect can transform discipline into a moment of teaching and bonding. Recognizing the essence of behaviors as a plea for help or attention can fundamentally change how we respond.
2. Reframing Perspectives: Labeling children with terms like "stubborn" or "difficult" can be detrimental. Instead, describing them as "determined" or "persistent" focuses on positive traits. This positive reframing helps nurture their potential leadership qualities.
3. Handling Behavior with Dignity: Parenting must respect a child or teen’s dignity. Understand that both kids and parents get triggered, and it's important to handle these situations without escalating or responding with fear or punishment. By remaining calm and respectful, parents can maintain their dignity as well.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Understanding the impact of emotional connection on behavior: You’ll learn how creating a sense of belonging and understanding within the family can calm a child's nervous system, making them more receptive to guidance and mentorship.
Reframing behavior as communication: You'll gain insights into viewing challenging behavior not as defiance or misbehavior, but as a form of communication, expressing needs or emotions that your child or teen may not yet know how to articulate otherwise.
Parenting with dignity using logical consequences: You will discover how to handle behavioral challenges with dignity, in a way that maintains the child's and your own sense of self-respect.
Regulating your own response: Learn strategies to manage your own triggers during intense parenting moments. By recognizing your body's signals and learning how to slow down and signal safety to yourself, you can respond more effectively to your kid.
Building bravery and resilience: You'll explore how facing fears within the parenting journey can foster bravery and resilience, not just in yourself but also in teaching these qualities to your child by handling challenges together.

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🔗 Show notes and resources: https://parentingadhdandautism.com/264

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