Earthway Parenting in Kincumber, New South Wales, Australia | Health & wellness website

Earthway Parenting

Locality: Kincumber, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 404 592 134

Address: Kincumber 2250 Kincumber, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.earthwayparenting.com.au

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• Health & wellness website

25.01.2022 Hello to those that are new here in this space, I’m Nikki a Maternal Child & Family Nurse, mama to three beautiful daughters & passionate about educating & supporting families with gentle & conscious parenting tools in their postpartum & well into early childhood. I am a child advocate but also have a passion for perinatal mental health, this passion has driven me to study counselling, my intentions for Earthway Parenting has always been about creating gentle & connected pare...nting content based upon research as well as my own unique experience in ‘becoming’ mum. I believe that parenting is about letting go of old beliefs & making room for self growth, it is an ‘unbecoming’ as we slowly unfurl who we are ‘becoming’ because change is at the core of being human & especially so as parents. We take with us all of ourselves & than get to decide what we want to leave behind as well as move forward with. It is about relearning how YOU as a human being want to be as you grow into being a parent, as a family. I believe that parenting is not linear. It takes growth,it takes time,it takes nourishment for self as well as them & it is always about a greater learning. Introduce yourself below, I’d love to know more about you

23.01.2022 Breastfeeding is a profound experience, one that is an act of female empowerment & feminism in its most natural way #WorldBreastfeedingWeek2020

22.01.2022 Gentle parenting isn’t permissive parenting. Gentle parenting is listening. It’s responding rather than reacting. Gentle parenting is teaching. It’s holding space for your little ones when they cry.... Gentle parenting is not ‘letting’ them get away with certain behaviours. It’s teaching them how to name their emotions & understand their behaviour & why they’re acting out. Gentle parenting is conscious communication within your relationship with your spouse. It’s parenting on the same page as much as you can. Gentle parenting isn’t a new trend. It’s as old as time which is why it’s still relevant in this modern world. Gentle parenting is kindness, it’s respectful & loving. Gentle parenting is about conscious communication, it’s awareness & authenticity. Gentle parenting is a choice, it’s more of a lifestyle than a parenting style, choosing to live gently & communicate gently creates humble homes. When we choose gentle responsive communication in all of our relationships we strengthen them. Peace begins within the home than it sprinkles out from the fringes into the community’s that we live in and transcends. @Tara Samuelson photography

21.01.2022 Pause. One of life’s most difficult states of being. If you are feeling overwhelmed. Pause & breathe, reset & BE.... If your children are unsettled & you’re feeling ruffled by their behaviour. Pause & breathe, reset & BE. If self compassion & care are needed. Pause & breathe, reset & BE. Pause. Because life will continue on but coming back to ‘self,’ after feeling overwhelmed, ruffled & just not ‘ok,’ can take longer then need be if we don’t know when to take, pause

19.01.2022 Changes My passion for gentle & conscious parenting grows more & more with the knowledge that as some grow older it can seem harder to change. I was an oncology/palliative care RN for eight years, within this period I realised not only the reflection that happens as we pass to the next realm but I also saw that no matter how much patients loved their family they weren’t always willing to meet them in the place that they needed them to emotionally, even as they were dying the...y still could not put their built up hurt & resentment behind them so the living could live peacefully I witnessed families that weren’t willing to bury their resentment or ill harboured feelings. They did not have the emotional capacity to change. When we become parents no matter our age, we do have the capacity for change if we choose to. Our parenting style, how we choose to parent whether that be with gentle discipline tools or punishment, we choose. Do we wish to give our children the silent treatment for days or do we seek them out as the parent & open up a conversation, again we choose. Now is as good a time as any to make positive change. How do you choose to make small changes today? Will you choose to change certain ways of being so that as you grow older you harbour less resentment & guilt as a parent? Do you choose open communication even if at times it’s painful because you’re not used to opening up a conversation with your kids & yes, you were brought up differently & your parents never communicated to each other let alone you, but your children don’t know that, but they know you, are you willing to acknowledge your childhood wounds & make changes for better communication, especially now with more time together, at home? How do you choose to change today so you don’t have to change later when you already may be stuck in your ways that it’s difficult to move forward for positive change? Will you choose positive steps to change today instead?

19.01.2022 After a beautiful 2 day break away to the Hunter Valley for ALL thewith my hubby to celebrate our 12 year wedding anniversary, we have come home to meltdown central with our 4yo. I get it, I do, she hasn’t been away from us, in fact it’s only the 2nd time we’ve been away from our kids in 11 years, we kind of anticipated it, but I am exhausted already & it’s only been 2 days back so this message is a reminder for me just as much as it is for you For my daughters I know ...that if I’m upset-they’re upset, if I’m teary, suddenly so are they, but if I’m calm they tend to become calmer as well. It’s a HUGE responsibility and sometimes I will literally feel the weight of it on my shoulders and in my heart. ‘But researchers have described that self regulation and the ability to calm ourselves, it can lead to a biological change in our body.’ -Raising your spirited child, Mary Sheedy Kurcinka Ed.D. To help our children understand and manage their own emotions we have to commit to developing our own self regulation skills first. Have you noticed that with fire you will fight fire? When you are practicing softening your approach your child will noticeably soften too. Full disclosure; It takes A LOT of patience! Always a few tears (on my part too!) but with your actions and words changing to a softer state of being you can begin to change your child’s intense reactions too. As parents our children will naturally turn to us in times of comfort; they look up to us to show them the way & they need assistance in the regulation of their big emotions- because we are their role models by me, of our beautiful nearly 5 years old, Zari Anika

19.01.2022 Parenting with Empathy Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be a human being. It is the foundation for learning how to love others as they are, to care about another’s feelings, and the beginning framework for healthy relationships.... When I was a Registered Nurse on an Oncology/Palliative care ward, a patient once said to me that; ‘Not everybody can empathize, to truly empathize you need imagination.' This to me is the perfect analogy; Imagination is key to putting yourself in another persons shoes. It’s not always easy to understand someone else’s emotions especially when they are toddlers & can’t communicate well, as parents we can simply tune into them when they are speaking to us (put down your phone no matter how interesting that Facebook post is!!) this shows them that you genuinely care & want to listen to what they have to say. With older children, take a genuine interest in their lives & what they are showing curiosity in, for example- our eldest daughters love to dance, I was a dancer too, so for myself it’s easy to show an interest in but maths was never my favourite subject, and both of our girls love it, so I’ve started to show more involvement in that! Your children will learn empathy by watching you, ask yourself, how do you treat other’s? They’ll notice if you welcome a new family into their preschool or express concern about another Mother’s child at the local park. Self reflection is an important part of teaching empathy to your children too. Are you feeling exhausted or stressed? There’s so much angst in the world right now it’s important to reflect & process so we aren’t feeling depleted so we have the emotional space to empathise with our children as well as others. Self care and not living in constant overwhelm is an essential part of taking care of you so that you have the emotional capacity to share space with those around you. How does teaching or showing empathy for your family look like?

18.01.2022 Self Reflection as a parent creates a solid and beautiful foundation of emotional well-being that will enable your children (and yourselves) to thrive not just 'survive.' We ALL have our stories. Our truth and our own unique experiences. In fact, we are currently amidst a collective experience right now!!... So on that subject, in honouring the story or experience & reflecting on how it’s serving you & your family, it can allow much needed breathing room or perhaps an understanding that there’s anxiety there. When we can reflect on our inner feelings we can let it flow through us because it’s not serving us or we can do more of it because it is. When we grow as parents we create an opportunity to also grow as individuals. We are always evolving and becoming more of who we are if we are open to the vulnerability of it. Does your parenting journey include a healthy dose of self reflection? *Image via Pinterest

18.01.2022 Children aren't born knowing hatred, bigotry, intolerance and racism. Children aren't brought into this world knowing sexism, colour, and homophobia. We as parents teach them that.... Children aren't born knowing love, tolerance, compassion and understanding. We as parents teach them that too. During your little ones foundation years choose wisely your words. Speak kindly your truth. Because all your children know is what YOU teach them @valentinabrave

15.01.2022 I remember writing about the Baltimore riots back in 2015 I was infusing a patient with an IV completely oblivious to the news & saying so on social media, that I couldn’t watch the news as it broke my heart. Yep it does, every damn day but being pregnant with our third, knee deep in toilet training a 3 year old as well as juggling a kindy kid & 2 days work on the weekends, is no excuse for not having the emotional capacity for it, I realise now that I was being ignorant. I s...hould have educated myself then so I know better now. Unfortunately I was the problem back then because I looked away just like SO many others have & still do & that's why this is still happening, until #blacklivematter all lives don’t matter, systematic racism here on our own soil in Australia as well as everywhere within the world is a white persons problem too because if it isn’t it will always be an issue See more

14.01.2022 New beginnings are afoot I really feel that this year for a lot of us has been overwhelming & all encompassing, an envelope of feelings to either explore & reflect upon or perhaps tuck away for another day. I’d place myself in the category of having done both & I know that with that envelope of feelings I’ve immersed myself in my self growth, family, reflection & a new practice of meditation.... Transformation doesn’t have to feel vast, it can be subtle & expansive, quietly done so within. How has this year felt for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts & musings below

08.01.2022 Use your words wisely When we hold a positive vision or thought about our children it instantly changes the way we respond to them. Our heart rate slows, we have far more patience and we are able to see their unique attributes. Use your words wisely. ... Instead of saying; ‘You are so demanding’ Try saying; ‘Wow you have a bunch of high standards today!’ Instead of saying; ‘You are so destructive!’ Try saying; ‘ You are very creative!’ Instead of saying; ‘You can be so rude!’ Try saying; ‘You are very honest today’ Instead of saying; ‘You’re so argumentative!’ Try saying; ‘You might well be an amazing Lawyer one day!’ WORDS by Nikki Smith @earthway_parenting IMAGE by @hadasimages

07.01.2022 Conscious parents stay open. They allow themselves to lean into vulnerability because they know the importance of feeling their emotions, in doing so they are more insightful & connected. Conscious parents that maintain connection throughout the day with their little ones also know that in doing so allows for being present & in the moment.... Conscious parents believe in who they are, they are respectful of their child’s unique journey & they trust in their own inner knowing & guidance. Conscious parents know that seeking help & support is not shameful. They know that in accepting & receiving help it allows for personal growth. They also know that in doing so it creates feelings of self empowerment, enabling them to learn of certain beliefs, thoughts & habits that no longer serve them to be shed. Conscious parents seek a path of contentment. They hug their children, savour moments of connection & presence and they know that saying ‘I love you,’ regularly & from the depths of their heart will always be an important part of their parenting journey. Parenting consciously is a way that we can all parent if we are open to growth & learning about ourselves in order to grow & learn together with our children.

05.01.2022 Central Coast mamas, this looks like a beautiful opportunity to connect with like minded parents, gain insight & also feel empowered on your conscious parenting journey

05.01.2022 I wanted to share something I wrote about moving through our toddlers big feelings & being ok with not being a ‘perfect parent,’ because there’s no such thing especially in 2020 & the roller coaster we’ve all been on! I certainly have my moments as a mum, & there have been times lately that I have yelled.. I am not proud of that person, but I am still only human. When we can acknowledge that we are having these moments, it allows us to step back & take the opportunity to ref...lect on what we can do better. When emotions have taken over & its difficult to maintain calm, when we have yelled & lost control of ourselves ALWAYS make sure to hug it out & apologise. I will say sorry to our girls for my behaviour & I will take full responsibility for it. We ALWAYS hug it out. By demonstrating to your kids that you are also only human, that you can apologise for your behaviour that may have been inappropriate, you are TEACHING your children how to behave & how to have compassion for others as well as themselves. There are NO perfect parents. We are ALL just doing the best that we can with the knowledge that we have

03.01.2022 As a white woman, I am listening. I am going silent on social media so that the voices that NEED to be heard are HEARD and AMPLIFIED #alllivesmatter #systemicracismneedstostop #blackouttuesday

02.01.2022 Parenting is not linear. It takes growth,it takes time,it takes nourishment for self as well as them & it is always about a greater learning. Hadas Images

01.01.2022 Re-parenting yourself is a term that many have either heard of, or in some cases not. We tend to be protective and defensive around our childhood experience, I certainly was & as I started slowly unraveling my childhood even more I was met with many blocks from my family, it was confronting for them as much as for me but I intuitively knew that my postnatal depression & how I felt about birth & breastfeeding was so different to how my parents felt, and I wanted to know more a...bout the why & how I could show up for myself, which up until then I struggled to do. The truth is we have a unique opportunity to heal and to choose different behaviours as adults. Regardless of what we may have experienced in our past. I’ve realised as my work has developed that a lot of what you’ll learn on your parenting journey is more about you then your children. Why you may ask? Because parenting starts with you. It begins with a healthy dose of self reflection & processing your own childhood wounds. It’s about reflecting, acceptance & moving through the wounds in order to understand your triggers when your little one cries, screams & experiences a meltdown. This is the work we need to do as parents in order for us to better understand our child’s temperament & how we can reflect on our own parenting styles to better suit the emotions of our children, this is where change within the home begins, with you.