What do gremlins have to do with parenting and kids? A gremlin is something that holds you back from having, being or doing what you want in your life.
It's a limiting belief, fear, or other emotion that keeps you stuck and prevents you from making progress with what you want to accomplish.
That happens in parenting as well. If you have a belief about the world or that parenting is supposed to be difficult, it will affect your relationship with your kids and keep you and your children stuck.
One of the ways coaches help clients deal with a gremlin is to visualize it.
What does it look like? Is it an animal? A monster? A rock? Give it a name and describe how it affects you. You can even talk to it. I did.
“Hey, Fred. (My gremlin was Fred, the frog.) Hey, Fred. I have other things to take care of. I'll get back to you later.”
It sounds silly, yet it's quite effective. This is something you can teach children of any age, as young as toddlers.
Whatever fears they're dealing with, explain it to your child. “OK, this thing that you're afraid of, we're going to call it a gremlin. Let’s give it a name, draw a picture of it, and you can talk to it any way you want.”
Become aware of your gremlins, talk to them, and watch their power over you disappear.
P.S. For more resources on parenting your teen with more joy, CLICK HERE to join our private FB group for moms.
Fern Weis is a certified life coach who learned that caring and good intentions are not enough in parenting. In fact, they are often the problem! Fern supports parents of teens and young adults who are going through difficult situations, including addiction recovery. She helps parents release guilt, end enabling and confidently prepare their children to thrive through life's challenges. Her articles are featured in Thrive Global, Medium, Motherly, The Teen Mentor, and Bergen County Moms.
Learn more about coaching and classes at www.fernweis.com. And then download your free guide, "Five Powerful Steps to Get Your Teen to Talk." For information on Family Recovery programs, visit www.familyrecoverypartners.com.
Comments