Grateful and thrilled to be a part of the upcoming panel discussion on ‘Youth and Parenting’ this International Women’s Day from 2pm IST to 3pm IST!!
This is an initiative by MyStartup TV with the entire day filled with insightful panel discussions on topics covering sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, youth as inspiration, leadership and more.
This initiative will be aired live on YouTube from 10am IST to 10pm IST today (link below)
I look forward to sharing my insights and learning from fellow panelists.
Hoping to make this a conversation that resonates with us all.
From 2PM IST to 3PM IST
Phase 1: Before I became a parent –
Like most parents, I have witnessed and experienced both the worlds – that of a child and then as a parent. Till I became a parent, I found life to be quite smooth and simple. I say this in the context that until I became a parent, my entire focus was on self – my dreams, my career, my love, my lifestyle, my shopping, my holidays and the biggest of them all – my space. I was the go-to-person in my friend circle for all problems and issues. I would listen attentively and intuitively and share my philosophy with them. I felt happy and joyful whenever my advice would work for my friends.
Life seemed fairly certain and predictable. There was always a lot of planning and routine was pretty much set for me.
On the work front too, I was fortunate enough to have got a wonderful manager who was able to see my innate and natural ability to understand and mould people. She guided me towards my strength, that is people, and groomed me into becoming a behavioural skills facilitator. I started facilitating not just programs, but also coaching team members formally and informally. My colleagues would reach out to me with their innermost challenges to gain fresh perspectives and viable options to manage the challenges.
And then one day, I became a parent.
Phase 2: The Young Parent –
So what changed?
Everything and Nothing.
Life was yet the same…. I was still working and managing home and family affairs. But I was now raising and nurturing a child. Something that I had never done before. It looked easy and I had done a lot of prior reading during my pregnancy period.
While the same books were read by pretty much most of my friends and known people, I realized that everyone was experiencing a different routine and pattern in their children. The conversations included almost the same child topics but the effect of these experiences and challenges were different for everyone.
Since I was the go-to-person always, I started getting flooded with calls that revolved around parenting stress, relationship issues, burnout, loneliness and an overall lack of interest and enthusiasm in life. Everything that everyone was doing or saying was for the sake of their child.
They would keep asking for immediate solutions and I kept pushing back.
The awareness that parenting stress is much more than just not being able to manage the child, slowly started sinking in. On the face, it appeared to be all about the child, but I had a different opinion. To me, parenting is not about the child. Parenting is actually about the parent.
And I was living and breathing this logic and perspective in my life and raising my boys accordingly.
Phase 3: The Mature Parent –
Life had a lot in store for me – from facing financial to personal crisis to having lost both my mother and father within a matter of 4 months.
Priorities kept changing coupled with the guilt feeling of not being able to provide enough for my children.
Were these challenges permanent? Well, not really.
Then is there a need to be fearful? Well, not really.
These and similar thought processes and reactions is exactly what our children observe and learn from us. And I was always conscious of that. I chose the tough path – instead of shielding them, I exposed them to the real situations and the lack that we were experiencing. If they are my children, then our lives are integrated too. And we have to live and grow as a team.
Sometimes, I taught my children and there were times when they taught me a lesson or two. And I gladly received their valuable insights.
The struggles did not go away; however, these struggles planted seeds of resilience and grit that kept growing with every life event (in me and my boys).
Phase 4: The Parenting Mentor –
I always knew what my mission was…..that I am meant to be a listener, I am meant to question and seek answers and I am meant to partner with people to plant new thought seeds and change their perspectives for the better.
For more than two decades, I’ve listened to and helped break down complex situations into simple understanding of the core self. This job would always give me the greatest satisfaction and it gave me an opportunity to use my ability for understanding life trends and patterns, especially in relationships and emotions. My objective in all my formal and informal conversations was to bring as much clarity to people’s lives and work along with them to strengthen their emotional foundation and discover their true innate personalities and potential.
My close circle of friends and associates, who had benefited during our conversations, would keep urging me to look into pursuing mentoring as a profession.
The result – ‘Praisers’ as a philosophy was born. (I accept I took my own time to create this platform owing to multiple areas that we tend to think of before taking the plunge)
I coined the word ‘Praisers’ – that represents parents who raise children using consciousness, intentionality and science. These have always been my three pillars of getting to know self and life.
My vision is not just to have few dialogues. My vision is to create a community of parents/caregivers/guardians who are themselves conscious, intentional and scientific in their thinking and approach. And since parents are the biggest influencers for their children, the next generation will also grow with the elements of consciousness, intentionality and practicality embedded inside of them.
I began my mentoring journey with a sole focus on parenting, driven by a deep passion to support families through the challenges of raising teens and young adults. As I navigated this path, it became evident that the realms of parenting, relationships, mid-life, and the teen-to-adult transition are intricately connected.
Understanding that these aspects of life have a profound impact on one another, I expanded my mentorship offerings. Relationships significantly influence parenting dynamics, mid-life reflections often intersect with family dynamics, and guiding teens through their transition to adulthood requires a holistic approach that encompasses all aspects of life.
This evolution is rooted in the belief that addressing one facet without considering the interconnected nature of life’s challenges may provide only a partial solution. By embracing a comprehensive approach, I aim to empower individuals and families to navigate the complex tapestry of life with resilience, authenticity, and a deep sense of self-awareness.
Connect with me when you’re navigating the twists of parenting, seeking support in relationships, experiencing mid-life crisis, or guiding your teen into adulthood.
Some common scenarios:
1) You wish to balance and better manage your work-life schedule in order to give the required and relevant quality time to your child.
2) You are wondering how to respond effectively and strengthen the parent-child/teen bond.
3) You are seeking guidance on fostering better understanding and connection in your relationships.
4) You are approaching a crossroad in your career or personal life.
1. Super experience 2. Intially I was apprehensive sharing my personal details with you but with the ease you spoke made me very comfortable and could open up.
3. It helps channelising my thinking process and it’s very important.
4. As i said it changed the way i think and look at relationship and opportunities in work.
5. The ease confidence and friendly way you communicate
6. The thoughts keep cmg negative ones let it go get it out please don’t disturb me let me concentrate on positive one for growth
7. Yes definitely you have helped me with the ease you conduct your mentoring and would definitely help anyone who requires it.
