I remember back to the beginning of this parenting journey coming across QTIP, which stands for quick taking it personally. This little reminder was used to gently nudge me away from some of the struggles I was having with my children and I have to say it is so important for me to remember these days. As my boys are getting older they are trying out new ideas, new concepts and even new ways of being in the world and since I have the trusted role of mom, I get to be by their side for the good the bad and the ugly. And if I wish to remain a trusted confidant I need to practice QTIP on the regular.
Where I find this particular piece most challenging is when the boys find the courage to point out the moments when I am stepping away from the intention of how I want to parent and falling in to reactions to circumstance. I can easily, when these comments are made, slip into my knee jerk patterned response of defensiveness. However, I have witnessed, more than once, how this reaction lands on my child. The shoulders shrink, the body closes up and I can almost see the wounds of my words on their inside worlds, the trust between us dissolving. Yep, I can apologize but this doesn’t take the words away. It begins to build the bridge back to trust but I really do prefer when I can take that extra second to breath deeply, QTIP and react from a place of unconditional love, to keep our trust and closeness intact.
The reminder for me, again and agin, is the best thing I can do in the moment when I feel that defensive protective self come out is to see the child before me and come toward them with a reaction that is held in love, respect and connection. To take the extra moment to breath in the breath that takes me out of whatever story I am running and puts me into the unconditional love that is my child’s birth right.
Our children are human beings doing the best they can with the resources available to them to get their needs met. I am the safest most trust worthy resource and so I get gifted with the chance to witness all of their unfolding. I am also human and flawed and when my child notices me slipping out of intention and into circumstance the only true reaction is, “thank you of noticing and bringing me back to my right mind.” Because really what my child is saying, in the best way they know how in that moment is, “hey mom I’ve been paying attention all along and I know who you really want to be.” Imagine that for a moment. All these years of paying attention to who my children are, witnessing and showing up for them, has lead them to have the confidence to do the very same for me. This is the foundation for years, beyond childhood of connection, truth, respect and love, oh so much love. And that friends is all this mama could ever dream of. So bring on your observations you beautiful human beings, mama’s heart is open and ready to listen.
Recent Comments