Motherhood: Breaking Generational Cycles: Raising Children Differently (7)

The Power of Self Awareness

Hello Great Mothers!

The strategies we use in nurturing our children often evolve from our own childhood experiences. The way we were raised influences how we nurture, discipline, and relate to our children, making self-awareness essential.

Without it, we unconsciously repeat generational parenting patterns—whether good or bad. These patterns can have either a positive or negative impact on our children’s well-being.

Some parenting patterns help children mature, develop strong morals, and build good character. Others, however, may limit their emotional growth and well-being. To raise emotionally healthy and resilient children, we must understand our past, consciously break harmful cycles, and embrace positive change with confidence

How Do We Understand Our Past and Break Unhealthy Generational Parenting Patterns?

Reflect on Your Upbringing
Take some time to think about how you were raised:

1) Were you compared to others or criticized?
2) Were you encouraged and supported?
3) Were you allowed to express emotions, or were they dismissed as weakness?
4) Did your parents instill great values like resilience, discipline, kindness, or strong ethics?
5) Did you grow up in a strict, fear-based environment where:

i) you were constantly punished for making mistakes, instead of being seen as learning opportunities, and being guided accordingly

ii) Were you frequently compared to others, making you feel inadequate?

Reflect on these questions and write down what worked and what didn’t. Consciously adopt and pass down the positive parenting patterns while intentionally breaking free from the harmful ones.

Take a moment: Write down two childhood experiences—one positive and one negative—and kindly share how they impact your parenting style today.

With God and intentional effort, we can raise children who respect us out of love and trust—not fear!

Bye!