YOUR TIME-IN TOOLKIT SAVED US!... Oh it is Godsend!

I'm a coach and I specialize in relationships, love, and healing - specifical wounds from the past and how to reconnect with your "self". For the first 2 years of Avery's life here on Earth, I felt like I was doing pretty well!.. AND WOW!... Out of no-where... I just didn't know what to do AND I knew that he was communicating something underneath his behaviour and I was stuck. Oh... I just didn't know where to turn to. I read, and read.. and nothing was working.

We had a family trip to Japan for 4 weeks in Mid-January this year. It was the trip that broke us!... We even contemplated returning home halfway through the trip. We were traveling with other families and Avery wasn't coping - and I didn't know how to help him.

It was TOUGH - and it was one of the most transformational trips as parents too.

There was a point in the trip where I asked him; "Do you feel loved or unloved?"... and he kept repeating "Unloved". His needs were not met and connection was challenging.

When I got back home I realized a few things:

- His Love Language of Quality Time was unmet since we were with friends

- He felt life was unfair - as we were traveling with other families, everyone has different rules. One of ours is no devices when eating; and also no snacks before a main meal. I get it - it's tough parenting so there are no judgements. We were with 4 other families and each child had their own device which they could use when they ate. We didn't want to be too unfair with Avery - so we said; "if they would share, you can watch.. however you don't get a device"... most of the time they didn't want to share.. and we found it sooo challenging...

- He was overwhelmed with being with everyone all the time. I didn't realize this - even though I believed he was quite familiar with the children and families we travelled with, seeing them all the time was way too much! 

Post Japan trip - Avery started hitting. I totally get this is toddler behavior communicating frustration - and I didn't know what to do. Talking wasn't working... I have taught him how to breathe since he was a lot younger, that wasn't working either.

I've followed Generation Mindful for a while and thought I'd wait till Avery was 3. As soon as we got home, I saw something on Instagram/ Facebook and I purchased it straight away. 

YOUR TIME-IN TOOLKIT SAVED US!... Oh it is Godsend!

He LOVES his calming corner. It is set-up as his space in our lounge room. Every morning he runs out and walks over to the feelings board. He would describe how he felt yesterday or a week ago.

EG. "Mummy I was bored at dinner"! ... There was this one day at dinner where he was acting out. I got the cards, went through them and asked; "Are you feeling this one..." etc. He picked out "Bored". It made sense!

I am still learning and this Time-In ToolKit has expanded my access into naming his feelings, cultivating empathy and increasing connection.

This has made a PROFOUND difference on Avery, on how I communicate and can meet him where he is, and on how I can empower him to not only feel his feelings - to work through the big feelings.

He has stopped hitting. And he knows now just to unleash the emotion of frustration through crying, he will run to me for connection - and then ask for water. WOW!

Thank-you!.. So so grateful. 

I can't wait to witness the magic continue to unfold.

So grateful for your wisdom!... I am learning SO much. 

Generation Mindful creates tools, toys, and programs that nurture emotional intelligence through play and positive discipline. Join us and receive joy in your inbox each week.