51. Instagram Vs Reality: The Truth About Gentle Parenting
How to Stop Striving for Perfection and Start Parenting Authentically
Gentle parenting isn't about being gentle 24/7—it's about adapting to your family's needs. This approach, often glamorized on social media, can create unrealistic expectations, leading to stress and burnout. It's time to debunk the myths and focus on authenticity, self-compassion, and flexible strategies that truly work for you and your kids.
What’s This Chill Like a Mother Podcast About?
This podcast calms the chaos of modern mom-life, helping you stop running on empty and start living with intention. We’re talking less anxiety, more creativity, and practical tips for moms ready to ditch the overwhelm and reconnect with themselves.
The Pressure to Be Perfect As a Mom
Modern motherhood often comes with a heavy dose of perfectionism. With Instagram feeds filled with curated snapshots of gentle parenting moments, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing if you don’t measure up. But the reality is gentle parenting isn't just about soft tones and endless patience.
It’s about adapting your approach to meet the unique needs of your child—and yourself. Social media can paint an unrealistic picture, turning what should be a supportive philosophy into yet another impossible standard.
Debunking the Myth of Gentle Parenting
Gentle parenting has gained traction as the "ideal" way to raise children, but it’s important to remember that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Olivia and Anneke from Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings emphasize that this approach is about flexibility and understanding, not rigid adherence to a set of rules.
Trying to follow every piece of advice can lead to parental burnout, especially when life throws challenges your way—like financial stress or raising a neurodiverse child.
How-To: Embrace Flexibility in Your “Gentle” Parenting
Start with Self-Compassion: Understand that making mistakes is part of the journey. What matters is how you handle them and move forward.
Prioritize Authenticity: Don’t try to fit into a mold. Instead, focus on what feels right for you and your family. This might mean mixing gentle parenting techniques with other strategies that work better for you.
Tune Out the Noise: Reduce external distractions (like mindless scrolling) and avoid the trap of constantly comparing yourself to others. Your parenting journey is unique—embrace it.
Parenting is deeply personal and what works for one family might not work for another.
It’s essential to evaluate the advice you receive. Much like trying new food—sample it, see how it fits, and then decide what to keep on your plate. Also, maintaining your interests and relationships outside of parenting is crucial for your well-being and sets a positive example for your children.
Gentle parenting isn't about meeting an unattainable standard; it’s about finding what genuinely works for you and your family. Embrace the messiness and the imperfect moments as part of your unique parenting journey.
Are you looking for more ways to take care of yourself while navigating the complexities of motherhood? Download Kayla Huszar’s 101 Ways to Chill Like a Mother ebook and start prioritizing your well-being today!
About the Chill Like a Mother Podcast Guests:
Olivia Scobie (MSW, RSW, MA) is an Ontario based queer social work counselor who specializes in perinatal mood, reproductive trauma, parental mental health, and provider burnout.
She is committed to continuous learning and is currently completing a PhD in Health Policy and Equity. Her dissertation is focussed on the reproductive trauma experiences of LGBT+ birthers. Olivia is the co-founder of Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings and also the founder Postpartum Support Toronto (now Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario). She believes in eating dessert every day, telling your story, and barrier free access to healing services.
Anneke van den Berg
Director of Programs at Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings
Anneke van den Berg has a MSc in International Development from the Netherlands, and has extensive experience working with a wide variety of newcomer communities both in The Netherlands and Canada.
Resources for your motherhood:
Download this free guide: 101 Ways to Be Chill Like a Mother
Follow Kayla on her Instagram account @kayla.huszar
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