"If you bungle raising your children,  I don't think what else you do matters very much".

  --  Jackie Kennedy

Principles of Conscious Parenting

Conscious Parents fill their child's need for holding, soothing, and physical contact and do not worry about "spoiling" their baby with too much attention and affection.

Conscious Parents protect their children from danger at all times, including monitoring the things their children see on television and in the media. On the other hand, they do not attempt to shield or prevent all their child's mistakes or conflicts. Teaching our children self-reliance is part of our job as well as protecting them.

Conscious parents know the difference between praise and encouragement. 

Conscious Parents understand age-appropriate behavior and don't scold their children when they act "like a child" nor do they push them through development stages. Conscious Parents do not punish their children for behavior that is part of normal development, such as thumb sucking, separation fears or toilet training.

Conscious Parents express each correction of misbehavior as a clear and concrete rule and state the acceptable or appropriate behavior. Children need to know what is expected.  For example, "You may look at these books or play with these blocks while I am on the phone".  Expectations are stated in a positive, not negative sentence, as in, "You need to walk here, it's slippery" instead of "Don't run". Or, "You need to use a quiet voice in this room" instead of "Don't yell".

Conscious Parents ignore unimportant or irrelevant misbehavior and avoid constant criticism. They reward positive behavior, and "catch them being good"! They focus on the behavior they do like, not the behavior they disapprove of.

Conscious Parents apply rules consistently. Once rules are agreed upon, it may help to write them down. Try to stick to them.

The most important rule of all; Model the behavior you want from you child.  Your child is watching you to learn what it is to be a person in the world. Conscious Parents do not enforce a "do as I say, not as I do" mentality. Discontinue physical punishment. Physical punishment teaches children that it is OK to be aggressive, teaches "might is right" and builds resentment toward you the parent.  Correct with love. Talk to your child the way you would like to be spoken to.

Catherine's Recommended Parenting Books List

This is a list of parenting books that I have personally enjoyed and gained a lot of wisdom and support from.  When I pass any of these particular books on to others, I hear extremely favorable feedback about them.  If it takes a village to raise a child, then consider books by experts in the field to be a part of that village. These books provide the guidance and support we seek when parenting questions arise.  I have taken the trouble out of finding a book out of the thousands on the subject that might help support you in your  journey as a parent by providing you this list of some of the best, most well-thought-out, informative  guidance books on the sometimes confusing task of parenting. These books are consistent with the philosophy of Conscious Parenting, which I developed.

Powell Books. com would be a good resource for purchasing these if you want to review or purchase any of these.

Endangered: Your Child In a Hostile World. By Johann Arnold

You Are Your Child's First Teacher. By Rahima Baldwin

Whole Parent/Whole Child . By Polly Berrien Berends

STEP: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting: The Parent's Handbook. Dinkmeyer, et. Al

The Hurried Child, Miseducation: Preschoolers at Risk, All Grown Up and No Place to Go;  Teenagers in Crisis, Sympathetic Understanding of the Child.  by David Elkind

Raising A Son; Parents & The Making of A Healthy Man

& Raising A Daughter. By Don & Jeanne Elium

The Magic Years:  Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood. By Selma Fraiberg

Everyday Blessings:  The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting. By Myla Kabat-Zin and Jon Kabat Zin

How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. Faber & Mazlish

Bonding:  Building the Foundations of Secure Attachment and Independence. By Marshall Klaus, John Kennel and Phyllis Klaus

Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine Guide ot Parenting . By Peggy O'Mara

Parenting From the Inside Out:  How A Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive. By Daniel Siegel, M.D & Mary Hartzell, M.Ed.

The Aware Baby  and  Helping Young Children Flourish. By Aletha Solter, Ph.D

 Mothering Magazine, a bi-monthly magazine on relevant parenting issues.  It's like having a friend arrive at your doorstep!  It addresses the many aspects of parenting, even those you may not have considered parenting issues!  It is enjoyable, informative and helps parents make informed decisions on a variety of parenting issues.