Your Child Needs Safe Enough, Not Perfect

I met Dr. Carol several years ago and have admired her ever since. Her sweet spirit is magnetic, and her knowledge is extensive. In her presence, you feel seen and heard. I’m thrilled that she’s back at Hopeful Mom helping parents understand what a safe enough parent looks like.

Your child has gotten involved in pornography or something similar. You’ve worked hard to keep your nervous system from going berserk. You may wonder, “What did I do to let this happen?” Some aspects of how you related to your child either now or in the past may leave you feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed, or sad. Some people tend to give up at that point. Others try to shift blame to the child, or step up the boundaries or controls.

But what your child needs most of all is a safe enough presence. They don’t need you to be perfect; they need you to be with them, to see them, and to care.

Continue reading “Your Child Needs Safe Enough, Not Perfect”

When Life Disrupts: How Families Learn to Adapt and Heal

Only 1 in 7 married parents meet the criteria for resilience.

When an email about a 2024 study conducted by Barna[i] landed in my inbox a few weeks ago, I was intrigued. And encouraged. Resilience can be measured. It can also be learned. Good news for parents, especially those of us dealing with a child’s unhealthy behavior.

What is resilience? “The process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”[ii]

Flexibility. Adjustment. Adapting. Bouncebackability. All qualities of resiliency.

Continue reading “When Life Disrupts: How Families Learn to Adapt and Heal”