Searching for the best parenting approach: A journey of learning and growth

Inhoudstabel

A journey of self-discovery and growth

Hello, I am Peter, the author of this blog. I am not an expert in parenting, but I am a parent who is constantly striving for self-improvement. My journey is one of fascination and discovery, stemming from the confrontation with ‘problems’ – or as I prefer to call them, opportunities. My approach? I read about five books on the subject, each with different viewpoints and beliefs. I distill the essence, and look for what works for me in my situation and what aligns with my beliefs and philosophy. This process, although sometimes challenging, is extremely satisfying. It allows me to share the knowledge I have gained with others, in the hope of inspiring them to become the best version of themselves.

A map and compass with the inscription: 'parenting journey'

The mission of this blog series

This blog series is a reflection of my journey. Recently, I have written a number of blog posts about the development of children between 2 and 3 years old. This was not without reason: in my immediate family there are quite a few young children, including my godchild Marcel who is almost 2 years old. These blog posts have sparked conversations, with some aspects, such as tantrums and the toddler puberty, being recognizable. The question arose: how do you deal with that? That is not so simple.

Therefore, I applied my tried-and-true process: I looked for some books with different visions and assumptions that proved to be successful.

The approach: A deep dive into parenting approaches

In this blog series, I will analyze the following four, seemingly contradictory parenting approaches: 123 Magic (by Dr. Thomas Phelan), No Drama Discipline (by Dr. Dan Siegel), Positive Discipline (Dr. Jane Nelsen), and Conscious Parenting (Dr. Shefali Tsabari). Each of them has good reviews from those who have applied the concepts. So, they seem to work well.

In the following blog posts, I will describe each of these approaches, without passing judgment. I will distill the principles from each of these approaches and present them in a way that is easy to understand and apply. My goal is to present a wide range of parenting strategies, so you can choose what best suits you and your family. I advise you to do as I do: read, use what best fits you, your style, your beliefs, and philosophy. Experiment: see what works, what doesn’t.

In a concluding blog post, I will try to make an integration of these 4. Each of the approaches has been criticized. I notice that a combination of the four approaches can eliminate these criticisms.

An invitation to grow together

I do not claim to know everything. Far from it, I am confronted with problems (or as I prefer to call them: opportunities to learn and grow) just like everyone else. I am just like everyone else looking for answers, especially when I feel that I am falling short. And that has happened more often in the past, especially with regard to parenting. Yes, I have lost my patience at times. I have judged too quickly on several occasions. I even sometimes didn’t get out…

But my mission is clear: I want to become the best version of myself in various areas of life that are important. And I want to make my acquired knowledge available to those who want to do the same. I invite you to join me on this journey of learning and growth. Let’s become the best version of ourselves together.

Looking ahead to the journey

In the upcoming blog posts, we will delve deeper into the different parenting approaches. We start with the 123 Magic approach, a method that promises to transform your child’s behavior in three simple steps. We will explore the basic principles of this approach, discuss the benefits and challenges, and share how this approach can be applied in daily life.

Next, we will move on to the No Drama Discipline, Positive Discipline, and Conscious Parenting approaches, each with their unique insights and strategies. My goal is to present you with a wide range of parenting strategies, so you can choose what best fits you and your family.

Growing together as a family I hope you will join me on this journey. Take the time to read the blog posts. Consider the concepts that I present. Choose those that resonate with both your child’s needs and your own beliefs and philosophy. I encourage you to dive deeper, to learn more from the sources I share, and to experiment with the different approaches in your own life. See what works and what doesn’t. This is not an exact science, but a process of trial and error, of learning and growing. And that brings me to my slogan: “Grow as a family.” Because that’s ultimately what it’s all about: growing together as a family. Let’s become the best version of ourselves together. Let’s grow together as a family. Growasafamily.