photo by M. Julian Berz
The key difference between the awakening parent and the mainstream parent is that the awakening parent has a view, a context, that everything, (yes, everything) falls under. We see parenting as a path to our own wholeness and essential nature. We see our children as teachers. We hold the view that everything is sacred and trustworthy on our journey and our kid’s journey. So when shit hits the fan with our kids (or ourselves), we trust and accept what is occurring. The conventional parent refuses to surrender to what is arising and instead resists and denies. This type of parent tries to fit everything into their religion, their fear-box, or the box their culture created for them. Instead of making meaning, seeing the karmic beauty in it, and seeing traumatic events as opportunities to grow and heal, the conventional parent shuts down, blames, retaliates, invalidates, and feels “wronged” by life. And instead of their kids moving through the hurt with a view, resources, therapy, and all kinds of support, their children are on the receiving end of their parent’s denial and fear. So, these kids end up feeling invalidated, not trusted, unsure, and even more hurt. While understandable, I’m saddened by how many parents have their blinders on and refuse to receive life’s teachings for them and their children and thus perpetuate, and even create, more suffering.
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