WHAT I WISH I'D KNOWN ABOUT GENTLE PARENTING

Today I'm sharing what I wish I'd known about gentle parenting. Thanks to Hiya for sponsoring this video! Head to hiyahealth.com/meganacuna to receive 50% off your first order.
I hope you enjoy learning about some gentle parenting tips and gentle parenting misconceptions!
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[@yarazard]

Hardest part is regulating your own emotions

[@MeganAcuna]

Absolutely! It’s so tough.

[@KalaBader]

Maaan I needed this. We are in the thick of it with gentle parenting and hearing it’s actually working for you made me feel hopeful. Regulating myself is so much harder than I ever thought it would be.

[@MeganAcuna]

It really threw me for a loop too!

[@brittanywhite4016]

Thank you for this video! It helped me remember what my goals are. I work full time, in graduate school part time, and have a toddler! So these hands are full but I know this gentle parenting will be worth the effort! Sending the video to my husband and sharing with some friends ❤

[@LizJohnson-be8lu]

This video couldn't have come at a better time. So much judgement on our parenting over the holidays with family. Thanks for the encouragement and reminders on why we do it 😊

[@MeganAcuna]

I’m so sorry you experienced that! You are capable and allowed to make the best choices for your family!

[@Christina-xc7on]

Great topic, Megan! I recently read something I thought was a cool perspective: that discipline comes from a root word meaning "to teach", so discipline is is not about punishment but communication to teach little ones how to be people.

[@MeganAcuna]

Yes, I love that!

[@morganunraveled]

👏🏻👏🏻 and discipline is so much more about our discipline than theirs. we have to learn discipline in order to show up for them and teach them in a loving, healthy way!

[@blairpersyn4580]

Totally agree about arguments against it - I’ve never seen an argument that accurately portrays what gentle parenting actually is. They usually describe parenting permissively without boundaries but GP is big on boundaries

[@MeganAcuna]

YES! It’s so frustrating!

[@thedeidremovies]

Maybe you could do “What I Wish I Knew About Finances After Kids”? There’s a lot of discussion about what to buy for babies, but costs chnge as kids age into preschool, daycare, hobbies. Your perspective of caring for them at home and budgeting for that matters too! Thanks for everything you share and put effort into ❤

[@cyn_co]

I think when you say Authoritative parenting you actually mean Authoritarian. Gentle parenting is just Authoritative parenting repackaged. According to the APA the definition of Authoritative parenting is "In this parenting style, the parents are nurturing, responsive, and supportive, yet set firm limits for their children. They attempt to control children's behavior by explaining rules, discussing, and reasoning. They listen to a child's viewpoint but don't always accept it."

[@MeganAcuna]

You are so right! I mean authoritarian. Mom brain!

[@cyn_co]

@@MeganAcuna lol yes it can be confusing! Love your channel, I’ve been binge watching💕

[@wildeats_and_whimsy]

Amazing video! I really appreciate how you share both what it means and why to use this style, and the ins and outs of it.❤

[@abi_smith]

Thank you for this! I have a 22 month old little boy and I want to avoid giving him any of the childhood trauma I have from my childhood from parents who were NOT gentle with us. I agree about doing Therapy along side your gentle parenting journey. I've been in therapy for 1 year now and it was the best thing I've ever ever done.

[@MeganAcuna]

This makes me SO happy to hear! It truly is life changing

[@megancox9549]

Appreciate this insight as someone who hopes to practice gentle parenting someday!

[@gunesalkan6954]

I love love love this video. I would love more discussions around gentle parenting if you were to consider it. It is super beneficial and your examples made it make sense so much! Thank you! ❤️

[@josiestyers5784]

Omg so much yes to the gentle parenting is more about regulating yourself than the child! I find myself feeding into the behavior sometimes

[@MeganAcuna]

It’s so tough! Reparenting is no joke hahaha!

[@Immer427]

Megan, you are such an inspiration ❤ Thank you for keeping the focus on the wellbeing of our kids as we navigate the day to day parenting routine that is NOT easy. Sending you a hug.

[@cleansetsandbaguettes5236]

I needed that 80/20 reminder. Thank you. It IS hard.

[@user-hc9ps1gh3d]

As always! Love your content! Gentle parenting is no joke and 100 agree that it does not mean we give in! I had the hardest time with the boundaries and following thru!!

[@MeganAcuna]

It’s tough but we’ve got this!!!

[@dawnkelly4249]

I feel so seen! Just wanted to thank you for mentioning that Rowan does not want to be comforted in those intense, overwhelming moments. My son (who will be 3 in April) is exactly the same. I see my friend’s daughter run to her for hugs, but I’ve learned for MY child that he needs some space to calm down before he’s ready for words and physical touch from anyone. ❤

[@sagejackson1541]

Even if he doesn’t want affection during the melt down, you can still offer affectionate words, let him know that you understand he’s frustrated and it will be ok and that mommy is here for you. Try to talk him through what he’s feeling. Once he’s calm, offer affection and more clear explanation of what happened. Hopefully that works for you. But yes he might just need a few moments to let it out first. ❤

[@paytongrant8103]

Love this video so real!

[@alicsakurai]

This was a wonderful video! You articulated it so well and I 100% agree. I have been implementing gentle parenting as well and I agree with every point you made. I felt like you were describing every feeling I have felt and obstacle I have faced in this journey too. Our kids are even close in age too!

[@YourFriendAyana]

I’d love to see a video about how you navigate working with the older generations in your family and having them respect how you choose to parent, even when they are alone with your kids.

[@MeganAcuna]

I got really lucky in the fact that my in laws, who are our primary help with childcare, were super open to doing things this way even though it was different for them. It’s just been a lot of education and explaining why/how to do things the gentle parenting way! The judgement has mostly come from people who don’t watch our kids thankfully

[@monikab3413]

I agree, the biggest challenge, especially when it comes to parenting style and healthy eating habits (no sugar, salt, fried and junk, etc.)... Sometimes it's harder reasoning with them then with toddlers 🙈

[@YourFriendAyana]

@@MeganAcuna that’s really amazing!

[@hannahwoltman5474]

This was the most helpful and encouraging video I’ve seen on gentle parenting. I really needed this with my 16 month old 🥺

[@MagdaOstrowska]

Ah I needed this after this past two weeks. Just got back to work after my maternity leave and it was nothing but hard… thank you for those reminders ❤

[@taylorpepe725]

needed this after a hard day of parenting, thank you

[@taylamay8792]

Good job mama 👏🏻 we’ve been practicing gentle parenting since I started listening to Janet Lansbury’s Unruffled podcast when my first daughter was 4 months old. She’s 6 now, and I can confirm that it works and it is sooo worth it, as hard as it can be sometimes. ❤️

[@MeganAcuna]

I’ll have to check out this podcast! Thank you for the info!

[@MakayleHumble]

I have a 16 month old and a baby on the way. We’re also wanting to gentle parent our littles and this video was so encouraging and informing! Thank you!! Love all your videos btw. 🫶🏻

[@j22tiz]

What a lovely video! You almost had me at tears by the end. This is how I want to raisk my kids. I have a toddler and a baby and it’s been challenging, with the baby getting pushed around a lot. I get so angry, I resort to spanking…and then I feel really bad afterwards because that’s not the way I want to behave with my kids. I’m familiar with the theory of validating their feelings etc and this video has given me so much more motivation to keep on doing that!

[@MeganAcuna]

I’m so glad! None of us are perfect at parenting. Just the fact that you’re doing research and trying to be conscious of your parenting style shows that you’re a great mom 💛

[@mitraekstrom6073]

You are such an inspiration, thank you for this video! 🥰 I would love it if you have the opportunity to dive a little bit further on this topic, giving more examples of how you deal with the regular day to day "happenings", if you understand what I mean? ❤ I myself have a soon 14 month old girl and would like to know how I can apply gentle parenting on such a young child. I do understrand that the earlier you start is better. But since theres not so much communication in words back I don't know how to do it. Love everything that you do, thank you for the best channel on YT and Instagram! 🙏😇

[@jennifersondej5551]

I love this and how I wish I had all this information (KZbin) when my girls were younger they are know 24,22,20 all girls.

[@MeganAcuna]

Social media has been so helpful for me in this process and I’m so grateful I have access to it!

[@monikab3413]

Great video! As other moms already mentioned, one of the biggest challenges are self-regulation and awareness before reacting. I wish I would have and I think all parents should attend therapy before even planning to have kids, it would be such a game changer... Another big challenge is family and the older generations more specifically, always questioning parenting styles, healthy eating habits, sleep schedules, things managed differently then in their time... Would be curious how you handle this topic, how you respond to a remark, sometimes I am out of ideas and self-regulation 😅🙈

[@bozhang8820]

Nice video! Please share some tips of 2 years sleep regression (kid that sleeps well suddenly fighting for going to crib), and how did you transition them to toddler bed? Thanks

[@jocelynnelson]

I love your tips on gentle parenting! It sounds like the main thing you’re doing differently that isn’t turning your kids into little terrors is establishing consequences and actually following through! That is the key to raise respectful, considerate kids who learn self-control and so many Gen Alpha kids aren’t being taught that.

[@MeganAcuna]

Gentle parenting is big on related consequences and boundaries!

[@bethanysummers3377]

Thanks for sharing, you explained it so well. I did think it was a no discipline type parenting and you have given me insight. I was brought up in the 80s/90s and things have changed alot. Any type of parenting is so hard! I think we see how our parents do it and u are used to it but also notice things u want to change. My eldest is now 15 and he was very challenging! I (cringe) did smack him a few times and I just felt so bad and did feel like it was teaching him hitting was ok, which is not how I wanted to raise my kids. It was just the known thing to do from my upbringing childhood. (I was a only child and had a good childhood and very rarely smacked but it was the taught norm way to do it) I did use time out alot with him, was consistent and it was the only thing that seemed to work. Teaching our kids and explaining about emotions is a foreign thing for my era. U were just supposed to behave, no explaining things or talking about feelings. It's been a good change and If I had my time again I would gentle parent. 😊

[@LadyValette]

Can you share your books about emotions?

[@YourFriendAyana]

Something that’s really interesting. Is that most indigenous cultures? Do not use authoritarian corporal punishment in their parenting. There is a reverence and an understanding that little humans are fully humans, they should be treated with respect, and many cultures believe that their children are ancestors incarnate. a lot of this harmful, and abusive parenting tactics came about with colonization, and unfortunately, many cultures have forgotten these traditional ways. I appreciate so much that you are sharing about gentle parenting, it is near and dear to my heart, and I also love the term first generation gentle parent. This is most definitely the case for my family.

[@MeganAcuna]

Wow this is so interesting! I wish more cultures were like that. How inspiring!

[@courdyd]

Hey Megan! Any good resources that you recommend where we can learn more about gentle parenting and how to best implement it?😊

[@MeganAcuna]

I just added them to the description!

[@heathercornett4846]

I have a genuine question. In your scenario at the park. You said that if your son started to hit or kick you that you would introduce the boundary of not hitting or kicking. But what if after stating that boundary the child continues to kick and hit. Are there consequences? If so what do those look like?

[@MeganAcuna]

Absolutely! In this scenario I would buckle him into his car seat and tell him that I’m moving my body away from him to keep myself safe.

[@annaschreurs6423]

Do you still do like a time-out chair or timeouts?

[@MeganAcuna]

Nope!

[@annaschreurs6423]

Interesting. Lol I feel like even if I do the gentle parenting my daughter will go to an inner city school where it will be the least bit gentle 😬

[@katiek3258]

​@@annaschreurs6423there are lots of ways that the rules at school are different than the rules at home and kids figure it out (waiting for permission to go to the bathroom, raising your hand to speak, ect). Having the ability to self regulate their emotions and understand when a grown up is settling a boundry prior to starting school is still a good thing even if there's a more traditional discipline style

[@annaschreurs6423]

True I am just worried as most parents are sending them to school or even daycare. Especially in the area I live which is not nice.

[@Matt_Acuna]

Can confirm that Megan gentle parents me 😂 Maybe if I stopped behaving like a CHILD 😅

[@caitlynnmae2475]

Okay. So do you just define authoritarian as a parent who spanks or who expects a child to obey without a partnership? Wish that could have been defined more fully as well.

[@MeganAcuna]

Authoritarian parenting mainly about exerting control and making the child “behave.” Very “do what I say or else.” Common modes of discipline would be spanking, time outs, and unrelated consequences (think: you didn’t clean up when I asked you to, so you don’t get dinner tonight.) Here’s an article that might help! www.verywellfamily.com/types-of-parenting-styles-1095045#toc-authoritarian-parenting