grow

Contributed by Ren Allen

Gentle parenting is something we choose, not based on our child's behavior but based on how we want to treat the humans in our lives. Nobody said it would be easy every second. Nobody said it would guarantee some result. Except in yourself. I grow more as a human by choosing this path. I have a son who is "on the spectrum" and provides a lot of opportunities for me to grow.

I read posts in which parents complain about their kid, or say rude things about them and then wonder why their relationships are not harmonious. Start with celebrating the child you have...right here, right now. Anybody can throw their adult weight around and use put-downs or punishment. Gentle parenting requires growth and creative thinking.