Posts by Deborah Pettitt
Is it willful misbehavior?
Delahooke in her book Brain Body Parenting gives us an important question that we need to start with when accessing children’s misbehavior: is it willful misbehavior or behavior that signals a child’s vulnerability and need for support? She suggests that distinguishing between stressful behavior and purposeful misbehavior can open a new set of options to…
Read MoreBrain Body For Parents
Chapter 3 of “Brain-Body Parenting” by Dr. Mona Delahooke focuses on understanding children’s behaviors through the lens of their nervous systems. This chapter emphasizes the importance of recognizing that many behaviors are instinctual responses to stress rather than intentional actions. Dr. Delahooke introduces the concept of “pathways” to describe different states of a child’s nervous…
Read MoreChristmas Letter 2024
Dear Parents, As Christmas approaches, I would like to offer some things for your consideration that might help your children, and you get through the holidays more easily this year. Christmas is stressful for everyone, but especially for children with troubling pasts. It is best to focus on your relationship with your children first and…
Read More“Brain-Body Parenting” Part 3
Summary of Brain-Body Parenting: Green, Blue, and Red Pathways by Delahooke “Brain-Body Parenting” introduces a framework that helps parents understand their child’s emotional and physiological responses to parenting challenges through three pathways: green, blue, and red. Each pathway represents a different state, influencing how children act. Green Pathway: The green pathway symbolizes a state of…
Read MoreBrain-Body Parenting – Part 2
Chapter 2 of “Brain-Body Parenting” by Dr. Mona Delahooke introduces the concept that every child has a unique brain and body platform which requires an individualized approach to parenting. Dr. Delahooke emphasizes the importance of co-regulation and relational safety, suggesting that children thrive when they feel safe and connected. The chapter goes into how a…
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