My Secret Weapon for Peaceful Parenting

Hi there! I'm Jamie, a certified parent coach dedicated to empowering parents to learn the skills they need to thrive (and not just survive). My journey to becoming a parent coach began like many of yours – with my parenting struggles. I was often overwhelmed and reactive toward my child's behavior, and I felt guilty and defeated. Harsh external judgments from friends and family provided no guidance and left me feeling alone. I took a chance on parent coaching, and everything changed. I learned valuable skills that I needed to understand myself so that I could be the supportive, confident parent I always wanted to be.  

During my coaching journey, one of the biggest “light bulb” moments was when I learned some of the brain science behind behavior, and that it all starts with the nervous system. Imagine a 5-year-old's brain like a sensitive alarm system, easily triggered into "fight-or-flight" mode. This explains the meltdowns and outbursts: it’s not willful defiance, but an overwhelmed nervous system incapable of learning or reasoning. Children can experience this frequently, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and dysregulated as well. This creates a vicious cycle that is often hard to break.

The key to breaking this cycle lies in co-regulation. We play a critical role in helping calm our children's nervous systems by calming our own first. Taking a deep breath, acknowledging our emotions, and slowing down with our children send signals of safety, switching their brain from "fight-or-flight" to "rest-and-digest", setting them up to learn critical skills they’ll need to regulate their emotions independently. It takes time and patience, but this practice of co-regulation can be a game-changer for many of our children’s challenging behaviors. But it doesn’t end there. As parents, we also need to learn how we are contributing to this cycle, and I can help!

With me as your coach, you can expect to:

·        Learn to identify your triggers: What situations tend to make you react?  Once we know your triggers, we can develop healthy strategies for coping with them.

·        Understand that It’s not personal: What you believe about how your child behaves in these moments informs how you’ll respond. Understanding that their behavior is communication helps calm our reactivity.

·        Develop a set of goals: Together we can make a sustainable plan based on your individual and family needs.

No matter what your needs are, I can help you create more peace and connection at home. My coaching experience ignited a fire in me to help as many parents as possible, and The (Repair)ent coach was born. Stay tuned for more parenting tips, strategies, and ways to connect with your child.

Note: this article is also featured in Lake Tapps Living Magazine (Lake Tapps, Wa) and Sunrise (Puyallup, Wa).