Personal and professional insights into the transformative experience of motherhood and the psychological nuances of raising children. Key Takeaways:
- Personal Reflections & Influences • Heritage of Strong Women: attributes resilience and career path to family heritage, with grandfathers as the “liberal men of their time” for supporting daughters’ education.
• Peculiar Journeys: on pregnancies—each with its own specific craving to illustrate that every mother’s journey is unique and valid. - Child Development & Mental Health
• The “SPICE” Acronym: utilizes the SPICE framework (Social, Physical, Intellectual, Cultural, and Emotional) to monitor holistic development in children from birth to age 12.
• Emotional vs. Mental Health: clarifies that in early childhood, mental health often begins with emotional health. If a child’s emotions are “stabbed” or ignored, they can later manifest as deeper mental health issues.
• Behaviour as Communication: stresses that children communicate internal stress through external behaviours like biting nails, screaming, or lashing out, and it is the parent’s responsibility to “pay attention” and decode these signals. - The “EMOTION” Framework for Growth. A specific mnemonic to help parents navigate their child’s emotional growth:
• E: Education
• M: Motivating the mind
• O: Observation
• T: Talking about it
• O: Owning the emotions
• N: Navigating the emotions - Parenting Strategies & Values
• Fairness and Justice: as a core philosophies is being “fair and just” to children. It shy against favouritism and stresses the importance of listening to both sides of a conflict before disciplining.
• The Power of Play: a strong advocate for play as a tool for bonding, creativity, and problem-solving. Stopping play as an adult can stifle creativity and parents should continue to play even with their teenage children.
• Seeking Help: encourages parents to seek professional help (counselling, specialists, or local authority support) when they lack the necessary tools for complex situations, such as trauma or additional needs. - Support for Additional Needs
Early Intervention: highlights the importance of being a “voice for your child” in the face of budget cuts. A case study of parents who remortgaged their home to secure early intervention for their autistic child gives a solid example.
Parental Well-being: reminds parents that they cannot raise a human being effectively if they do not look after their own mental health first.
#Mothers Journey & Reflections + #Parenting with Renny Adejuwon