Greetingseveryone, welcome to RadioHeadspace.
My name is K-Sunga and we have made it toFriday.
Woohoo! I hope everyone's week has gone according toplan.
Andhopefully, just maybe these Radio Headspace episodes have helped along theway.
So I wanted to close out the week talking about something that I take very seriously and that I hold very dear to myheart.
I am referring toparenting.
If there's one thing that I'm100% confident I'm dedicatedto, that would beparenting.
This my belief that parenting is one of themost, if not themost, important job thereis.
Because your children didn't ask to behere.
You're literally molding and guiding a brand new soul intoexistence.
It's somagical. And I've mentionedbefore, I have two daughters ages 18 and 15 and they are myjoy.
The love that I have for them isimmeasurable.
But the thingis, as much as I love them and as much as I love being a parent and dedicated to being aparent, that doesn't mean that I get it right all of thetime.
Afterall, I amhuman. But like Isaid, I'm dedicated so when I notice I've messedup, I try to remedy itimmediately.
And even in fixingit, I may still mess it upfurther.
Especially withteenagers.
Oh myGod. I'm so grateful I have my mindfulness practiced alot.
Oh, and ofcourse, I have mywife.
But today's episode is dedicated to all the fathers out there raisingdaughters.
I'm going to give some mindful parenting tips that can help to strengthen your relationship with yourdaughter.
It also helps you to navigate the unique challenges of raising a girl in today'sworld.
And even though I'm dedicating this episode tofathers, these tips pertain to all parents out there raising their beautifulchildren.
Alrighty, let's talk aboutit.
So the whole reason I'm actually talking about this today is due to what happened with my oldest the other day when she got home fromschool.
Look storyshort, she got an attitude over some disagreement that wehad.
Which is fine because I know with her being18, we're not going to always see eye toeye.
But what I don't tolerate is talking to me with a disrespectfultone.
As my mother wouldsay, talking out the side of yourmouth.
And this is what she was doing and I promptly checkedher.
Now all the ladies in my beautiful house of estrogen have told me that I'm sometimes too harsh with the way that Italk, especially when I'm beingstern.
And I immediately recognize that this was perhaps the case when my daughtersaid,fine, whateverpapa, but you don't have to say it likethat.
And tears actually came to hereyes.
I feltterrible, I felt like crumbs on atable.
I embracedher, I kissed her up and jokinglysaid, I'm guessing this is one of those times I was a bit tooharsh,huh?
She smirked at me in between her sobs andreplied, youthink?
But this is how it is withdaughters.
It's really a specialconnection.
So as Isaid, let me just give a few suggestions I've learned over theyears.
Firstoff, being present with your daughter is soimportant.
Asfathers, it's easy to get caught up in work and otherresponsibilities.
However, one of the most important things you can give your daughter is yourpresence.
Mindfulness is about being present in themoment.
And when it comes toparenting, this iscrucial.
So turning off your phone or any other distractions when you're withthem.
This lets her know that she's your priority and when you're talking withher, practicing activelistening.
So instead of planning your response while she'stalking, focus on what she'ssaying.
Ask follow-up questions and engage with her thoughts and feelings and make eyecontact.
This is another signal that shows that you're being present withher.
The second thing I would recommend is to create a safe space for opencommunication.
Daughters often face unique societalpressures, and as afather, you play a key role in helping them navigate thesechallenges.
A great way to build trust and encourage open communication is by creating a safe space where your daughter feels comfortable sharing her thoughts andconcerns.
So listening without judgment or immediate solutions and validating herfeelings, simplysaying, I understand that you're feelingfrustrated.
That can make a world of adifference.
And the last tip for today is to be a role model for what mindfulness lookslike.
Asfathers, we set an example for ourdaughters.
By incorporating mindfulness into your dailylife, you can model healthy habits and emotionalresilience.
This not only benefitsyou, but your daughter will see you and perhaps feel encouraged to develop her own personal practice for her ownwell-being.
So, showing self-compassion to yourself and toher.
Showing that it's okay to make mistakes and be kind toyourself.
Another way is to practice mindfulbreathing.
When you feelstressed, take a few deep breaths to calm yourselfdown.
As I should havedone, maybe I wouldn't have sounded soharsh.
And teaching this technique to your daughter to help her manage her own stress andanxiety.
I remember this one instance where my daughter actually did take a deep breath when they got upset and she paused to groundherself.
I thought she was ignoring me and she waslike, I'm taking a deep breath like you taught us todo.
I waslike,oh,yeah,well, goodjob.
And also engaging in mindful activitiestogether, such ashiking,cooking, orgardening.
This creates opportunities for bonding and teachers of the value ofmindfulness.
So those are a few of my mindful parenting tips for fathers raisingdaughters.
Andagain, these tips are really helpful for anyone who is in the parentingrole.
And on theapp, visit an entire section dedicated to becoming a mindfulparent.
I invite you to go ahead and check itout.
I want to thank you all for joining me today on this journey into mindfulparenting.
I do hope it washelpful.
Asalways, if you have anyquestions, please hit me up on Instagram at K.Sunga Gaskoomba or email me ataskkissungaatheadspace.com.
I look forward to exploring more mindfulness topics with you in thefuture.
