As children, we have no idea about our parents’ roles, in any great detail. We may assume they look after and care for us, we may also assume they have our best interests at heart.

As children, we may also sometimes be conditioned from an early age to accept the life our parents choose for us. They may parent the way they have been parented and the cycle continues. Children should be encouraged to make their own choices, with the help of parental support.

I use encouragement and positivity as a means of communication with my children, and although I follow spiritual values that bring more clarity into my life around my decisions, I don’t force my children to follow the same values.

Instead, because they have had access to my values, I would like to think that some of my spiritual values, such as simplicity, understanding, sincerity, empathy, compassion and loyalty are ones that they will want to embrace.

Although there is no pressure, I hope my children bring, in its wider context, their own understanding of what being spiritual means.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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6 comments on “Our Parents' Parenting”

  1. My parents tried to overprotect me because of my CP, but in time one must find their own way in life.

    Everyone must find what makes them happy content and fulfilled as a person. That is what life is all about, being happy.

  2. I followed my parents beliefs for a long time, but when I was a teen, rebelled against it and then figured out I was wrong in doing so, but that's the life of a teen. We have to get out and experience life.

    I just got mixed in with the wrong crowd. I kind of follow my parents beliefs now to a certain extent. I think as we grow we learn develop our own beliefs.

    1. It's amazing Lisa how you came back full circle.

      I'm sure you must have put your parents' through hell as a consequence of your actions, but it's often the way we have to learn sometimes.

  3. It has taken me a long time to realise that I was still living by my parents' belief system.

    Now at this point I'm just trying to figure out what my belief system is. I'm hoping that I can change things for the better in the future!

    1. Recognising your parents' beliefs as your own is half the battle. No reason why you cannot change your beliefs Randy.

      It should come, give yourself time to work things out.

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