Inspiration for Creative Parenting
Scott Noelle's Enjoy Parenting and Coaching Websites
Jun 11, 2008
Scott Noelle’s Enjoy Parenting website, and his own coaching website, are excellent resources for parents trying to find ways to both be a better parent and to enjoy the process of parenting.
His advice is not, however, aimed at parents looking for new and better ways to control their children. Instead, he gives guidance on how to make a shift from the old paradigm of control, to one of creative partnership with one’s child.
In a culture that is not particularly child friendly, it can be difficult to find support and validation for living in harmony with one’s children. This is where Noelle’s offerings, as a parent and life coach, are helpful.
Creative Partnership and Natural Parenting
The idea of creative partnership stems from a belief that children are essentially good, rather than bad and in need of control. Responsive, natural, creative parenting is the best way to bring out the goodness in children, according to Noelle. Parents who practice attachment and holistic parenting will find Noelle’s ideas particularly helpful.
According to Noelle, the best parenting happens when parents are enjoying what they are doing. An added bonus is that children learn how to enjoy life from watching their parents model this state over and over. Of course, many parenting situations and challenges seem anything but enjoyable, so how does Noelle propose that parents deal with those?
Unconditionality in Parenting
Noelle’s concept of unconditionality is inspirational, encouraging and comforting. The idea is that, no matter what is happening with a child, the parent can remain in a space of allowing joy to enter.
Making way for the possibility of joy when a toddler is having a tantrum, or baby is exhausting mother with constant feeding and crying during a teething spell, sounds like a challenge. However, Noelle's free ‘Daily Groove’ email, which you can sign up for at Enjoy Parenting, gives practical suggestions to incorporate this idea into every parent’s life.
Part of being ‘unconditional’ in challenging parenting situations is being open to the solution, without trying to force one. Noelle's strategy is to focus on finding solutions together with a child, rather than seeing him or her as a problem to be tackled or an adversary to be conquered.
Often a change of perspective can help: one of Noelle’s ’Daily Grooves’ suggests imagining that your child is another part of your body, and that when he is upset it’s like dealing with a part of your body that is hurting. This can help the parent to react with compassion and patience rather than anger and frustration.
Creative Parenting and Surrendering to the Unknown
This quote from Scott Noelle, from another 'Daily Grooves', sums it up: “if you want to *parent* creatively, you need to accept that you often won't have the comfort of knowing, in advance, *how* it's all going to work out…creative parenting is what you might call a 'faith journey.'
Through attempting to be in a space of ‘allowing’, of unconditionality, parents can teach their children from a young age that their emotions and conflicts are okay – that they don’t have to be frightened of them, or try to change them, but can simply allow them to be.
Self Care for Parents
It's not all about being completely child-centred: Noelle emphasises taking care of yourself as a parent, avoiding the burn-out that’s inevitable from trying to be a creative, nurturing parent. One of his suggestions is to carry a ‘comfort card’ in your bag to remind you of little things you can do to comfort yourself, like singing along to a favourite album or taking a brisk walk.
Life Coaching for Parents
Noelle’s coaching website includes parenting articles on topics such as "The Lighter Side of Parenting" and "On Praise and Appreciation". He also offers personalised and group coaching, and the Daily Groove Total Immersion Coaching Programme offers online forums, an audio library, and monthly teleseminars.
Scott Noelle's overall message is to encourage parents to never give up being the best they can be. His websites support parents who would like to work together with their children, helping them to live out a different perspective on parenting. For more ideas on how to enjoy parenting, see the article Enjoy Your Children.
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