****Parenting isn't easy. Showing up is. Your greatest impact begins
right where you are. N**ow the bestselling authors of The Whole-Brain
Child and No-Drama Discipline explain what this means over the course
of childhood.
**
"There is parenting magic in this book."--Michael Thompson, Ph.D.,
co-author of the New York Times bestselling classic Raising Cain
One of the very best scientific predictors for how any child turns
out--in terms of happiness, academic success, leadership skills, and
meaningful relationships--is whether at least one adult in their life
has consistently shown up for them. In an age of scheduling demands and
digital distractions, showing up for your child might sound like a tall
order. But as bestselling authors Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
reassuringly explain, it doesn't take a lot of time, energy, or money.
Instead, showing up means offering a quality of presence. And it's
simple to provide once you understand the four building blocks of a
child's healthy development. Every child needs to feel what Siegel and
Bryson call the Four S's:
- Safe: We can't always insulate a child from injury or avoid doing
something that leads to hurt feelings. But when we give a child a sense
of safe harbor, she will be able to take the needed risks for growth and
change.
- Seen: Truly seeing a child means we pay attention to his
emotions--both positive and negative--and strive to attune to what's
happening in his mind beneath his behavior.
- Soothed: Soothing isn't about providing a life of ease; it's about
teaching your child how to cope when life gets hard, and showing him
that you'll be there with him along the way. A soothed child knows that
he'll never have to suffer alone.
- Secure: When a child knows she can count on you, time and again,
to show up--when you reliably provide safety, focus on seeing her, and
soothe her in times of need, she will trust in a feeling of secure
attachment. And thrive!
Based on the latest brain and attachment research, The Power of Showing
Up shares stories, scripts, simple strategies, illustrations, and tips
for honoring the Four S's effectively in all kinds of situations--when
our kids are struggling or when they are enjoying success; when we are
consoling, disciplining, or arguing with them; and even when we are
apologizing for the times we don't show up for them. Demonstrating
that mistakes and missteps are repairable and that it's never too late
to mend broken trust, this book is a powerful guide to cultivating your
child's healthy emotional landscape.
