How to parent mindfully, respectfully and effectively:  Using an Emotional Intelligence model

Emotional Intelligence is using your emotions intelligently to gain the performance you wish to see within yourself and to achieve your interpersonal effectiveness with others (Feldman and Mulle 2007 Put EI to Work)

• The more we are aware of ourselves as parents the more we are aware of the needs of our children.
• The more we can regulate our own emotions the more we can respond appropriately to our children's behavior.
• Awareness of self leads to greater awareness of our children, their needs, fears, actions, personalities and behaviors
• Management of self leads to greater responsiveness to our children, their challenges, strengths, jealousies, anger, fears, needs, frustrations.
• Empathy is the greatest tool in effective parenting. It creates acceptance, not always understanding or agreement.
• Resonance with our children creates shared understandings and trust.
• Disciplining with self control and awareness leads to respect, wisdom and lack of fear in children
• Optimism and initiative promotes resilience and healthy independence for children
• Humour is a circuit breaker in family dynamics
• Personal adult reflection enables conflict and battles to be minimized
• Creating resonance enables greater influence and modeling