Anita Young Counselling & Family Therapy

13/12/2023

14/05/2023

For those feeling a little tender today —
We see you.
We remember you.
We support you. 💐
———

Remembering
the motherless,
the childless,
the babies born sleeping,
the empty arms,
the one-parent-wonders,
the ache of distance,
the hurting hearts.
———

04/03/2023

Courage isn’t about something magical that happens inside us to make us ‘not scared’. It’s about something quiet that happens inside us to make us push through fear or self-doubt, or move with anxiety, to do the things that feel hard or risky or frightening. Sometimes, courage only has to happen for seconds at a time – just long enough to be brave enough.

06/09/2022

A beautiful reminder of how our wounds, unmet needs, and misconceptions can impact our parenting.

04/09/2022

This weekend may bring up difficult emotions for some.

If you're worried about someone, let them know you're thinking of them and want to support them with what they're going through.

For tips to help you support someone, visit: https://bit.ly/3QpupoR

02/08/2022

27/07/2022

♥️

You can see more quotes here https://littlepinelearners.com/30-quotes-about-children-and-nature-that-will-inspire-outdoor-play/

08/07/2022

This is great.

I’m sure I am not alone in experiencing some of this!

01/07/2022

Via .com 💙

15/06/2022

These are things that I find I have to remind myself and I hope my children learn earlier than I did.

What would you add?

Shared from the Therapist Parent.

07/06/2022

During adolescence, our teens need our love, support and influence more than ever. What they don’t need is our control. By adolescence, we don’t have any anyway. We might have the illusion of control, but the harder we push to control them, the more we risk losing them. Our teens are resourceful, creative and brave and if they want something enough they will do it anyway.

When we attempt to control them, we are pushing against thousands of years of evolution and their drive to explore their independence. They can’t make the transition from childhood to adulthood without establishing some sort of separation from us.

They might push against us, and sometimes this will feel fierce. This is not to push us away, but to loosen themselves from under our wing. Sometimes the closer they are, the harder they have to push. And sometimes, in the quest for separation and independence, it’s our connection with them that gets lost. They have important work to do, so it’s up to us as their parents to hold on to that connection tightly enough for them and for us, for whenever they need it. They will come back, but first they have work to do and it’s okay if this takes time and tears and ‘outside voices’ inside. It’s a learning adventure for all of us. .

Whenever we can, we need to nurture the fire in them that is looking to discover who they are. We can do this by asking their opinions, listening more than talking, valuing their insight, and letting them to teach us what it’s like to be in their world.

The more we try to control them, the more we squander our precious opportunities to influence them. They are less likely to come to us if they expect lectures, preaching, shame, judgement or harsh consequences. When the connection with them is there, hopefully, sometimes, they will let us take the precious and privileged place beside them as they explore, learn and grow. So often, our greatest parenting moments and connection with them will happen in the middle of the mess, but first we need for them to offer us a seat at the table.