Have Fun, Have Boundaries

Dear Parent,

Having fun is imperative for healing attachment challenges and raising healthy children. You can play and still have structure and boundaries.  Use your sense of humor to teach expectations, social skills, and appropriateness. Stop the fun to set a firm boundary, when the train suddenly goes off the rails; then go right back to being playful.  This way of engaging your child will help her learn regulation and to accept your wisdom.

Watch your own tendency to be sarcastic, dry, and snarky. If that is your style of play, you won't be surprised when your child returns your humor with sarcasm and sharp sardonic quips.  You won’t like it either.  I learned this the hard way. Keep your humor innocent and playful, rather than quick and cutting. You and your child deserve to have the lightness of being silly, emotionally safe, and joyfully engaged.

Dish it out the way you want to get it back, because it is coming back at you in spades (whatever that means).

Love matters,

Ce

P.S. Check out the Love Matters Parenting Society membership for more support.