Psychology

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How Understanding ME, YOU and US Makes for Better Parenting

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How Understanding ME, YOU and US Makes for Better Parenting

This process made me analyze and process something that most of us psychotherapists take for granted.  The ability to self-reflect is one that will help all relationships.  It is particularly crucial in parenting, but unfortunately it is something very few parents tend to do.  


Self-reflection takes time to learn and practice.  In development, it should be a marker we reach in varying degrees through the age groups but should master at the end of adolescence.  As Dan Siegel discusses in both of his books, Brainstorm and Mindsight, we need to be able to understand, ME, YOU and US, to make the best decisions as it pertains to relationship.  In parenting this is how I see this breakdown

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Adventures of a Parenting Expert at Disney (Part 2)

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Adventures of a Parenting Expert at Disney (Part 2)

The waiting and lines at Disney cause all to have to go through this process time and again.  However, at Disney, unlike the marshmallow test, after the wait you get much more than just two marshmallows. Everyone gets their imagination expanded and their hearts filled with joy.  It was interesting for me to witness this constant restraint, sometimes in failure and sometimes in success, of the many children and adults at the parks.   In the spirit of writing about the solution rather than the problem, here is how I think parents can handle this Disney test of patience and impulse control.