February 13, 2024 • 22 mins
Embarking on an empath's journey through the lens of parenthood can feel like navigating a labyrinth of heightened emotions, but it's a path I've walked and am eager to share. After a transformational retreat with kindred spirits in Costa Rica, my heart and mind are brimming with insights on empathic parenting that I can't wait to impart. The beauty of our shared experiences, the wisdom gleaned from sloth encounters, and the workshops that bonded us all left an indelible mark on my approach to raising emotionally intelligent children.
The tapestry of our lives as empathic parents is woven with threads of joy and challenges, and it's this rich fabric that we unravel in our latest podcast session. You'll find solace in our stories as we discuss the delicate balance between validating our children's emotions and maintaining our boundaries without succumbing to the guilt or exhaustion that often accompanies our role.
With every story shared and strategy revealed, we'll strengthen the commitment to nurturing a family environment where every member feels heard and valued. Join me, Kristen Schwartz, as we traverse this exceptional journey, reminding you that you're part of a community that understands the profound depth of your parental voyage.
#EmpathicParenting #SensitiveSouls #EmbraceEmpathy #HighlySensitivePerson #EmpathLife #SensitiveStrength #HSPCommunity #EmpathicConnection #SensitiveKids #EmotionallySensitive #EmpathicHealing #EmpathicJourney #EmpathicSupport #SensitiveSpirit #EmpathicEmpowerment #EmpathAwareness #SensitiveLife #EmpathHealing #SensitiveSupport #EmpathicUnderstanding
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to the Realized Empath Podcast,
where we get real about lovingand stumbling through our
sensitive lives with your hostand holistic counselor, Kristen
Schwartz, who helps redefinewhat's possible for an empath
who embraces a path ofself-healing.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hello, beautiful souls, and welcome back to the
Realized Empath Podcast.
I'm Kristen Schwartz, your host, and I'm beyond thrilled to
reconnect with you all after mytransformative journey at the
Realized Empath retreat in thelush, soul-stirring landscapes
of Costa Rica.
It was so amazing.
There aren't even words todescribe this experience, which
(00:47):
was like no other.
It was a profound immersioninto the depths of empathy and
self-discovery that really leftme inspired, utterly inspired
and rejuvenated, though women,the sensitive souls that joined
me on this adventure, were justeverything and more.
It's like picture this, likewe're all surrounded by the
(01:11):
vibrant hues of tropical flora,the soothing melodies of nature,
symphony and the warm embraceof like-hearted souls, and we
delve deep into the essence ofwhat it means to be a realized
empath.
And we did it throughsoul-nourishing workshops,
heart-opening force, meditationsand soulful connections.
(01:37):
And yes, I got to see a sloth,which I was really excited.
It was like one of the firstthings that I wanted to witness.
And I got to see my first slothon the very first day of our
adventure, and then I got to seeone on our last day, so I was
so excited.
I uncovered so many layers ofinsights and wisdom, and it's
(01:59):
forever transferred my approachto empathic adventure.
And here's the best part.
I'm already like eagerlyplanning the next adventure and
want you to join me.
Yes, you heard me right.
If you're craving your journeyof self-discovery and
empowerment and you love traveland adventure, you have to join
(02:22):
us next time for our realizedempath retreat.
I invite you to join my emaillist over at realizedempathcom
because next Wednesday I'm goingto be sending out an email and
asking you all what places wouldyou like to journey to?
What countries?
What states inside the US?
I'm curious and I'm reallyexcited to uncover where our
(02:45):
next retreat will be.
Even if you're not ready to goon a travel adventure with me,
you can be the first to knowabout upcoming workshops and
exclusive opportunities toembark on your empath healing
journey.
I'm going to be sending out anemail to opt-in to my email list
over at realizedempathcom.
Back to today's episode.
(03:07):
Today, what I want you to do issit back, relax as we dive into
and explore the frustrations,desires and fears of being an
empathic parent.
So get ready to embark on ajourney of self-discovery and
empowerment.
This episode is sure to answerall the questions that I get
(03:28):
over the years from empathparents and parents of highly
sensitive children.
So let's get started.
As parents, we understand theswirling sea of frustrations
that we can navigate daily.
So picture this it's a typicalmorning in your household.
Your child wakes up in awhirlwind of emotions and before
(03:49):
you even had your sip ofmorning tea, you're already on
that emotional roller coaster ofthe day.
It's like riding a never-endingroller coaster, from tears over
spilled cereal to meltdownsover mismatched socks.
As empathic parents, we oftenstruggle to maintain boundaries
between our emotions and ourchildren's.
(04:10):
It's as if an invisible ropeconnects us to their every
feeling, making it challengingto distinguish where they end
and where we, as parents, begin.
And let me be honest, it can beexhausting.
So how often have you foundyourself overwhelmed by the
(04:30):
sheer intensity of your child'semotions, feeling like you're
drowning in a sea of feelingsthat aren't your own?
But maybe the most insidiousfrustration of it all is the
guilt, right.
The guilt that creeps in whenwe can't fix or solve all of our
children's emotional struggles,or the guilt that creeps in
(04:53):
that we can't protect them fromsimilar pain that we had when we
were kids.
We tell ourselves that weshould be able to kiss away
their tears or banish theirfears with a hug.
But the truth is we're onlyhuman and we can't always be
everything to everyone.
And yet the parental guiltpersists right, weighing heavily
(05:15):
on our hearts and minds.
And let's not forget that thetoll that it takes on us, the
constant absorbing of ourchildren's emotions, leaves us
drained and depleted.
It's like we're emotionalsponges soaking up every sigh,
every fleeting moment offrustration.
And how often have you feltjust spent at the end of the day
(05:40):
, feeling like you had nothingleft to give.
As we navigate thesefrustrations together, I want
you to remember that sometimes,feeling overwhelmed is okay.
It's okay to set boundaries andprioritize your self-care needs
, even when the demands ofparenting are ever-present.
And, most importantly, it'sokay to ask for help when you
(06:02):
need it.
We can weather the storm ofempathic parenting one emotional
wave at a time.
And regarding emotional storms,right, what I want to do is I
want to move and focus on ourdeepest desires as parents, as
impasse to our parents, orparents who are, who children
(06:23):
are highly sensitive.
So, as empathic parents, so asempathic parents, we long for a
deeper understanding of ouremotional boundaries and we
really want to know how tomaintain them.
Raise your hand, if you getthat.
It's like searching for theelusive treasure map to navigate
(06:45):
the seas right of parenthood.
But here's what I don't wantyou to fear.
I don't want you to fear thatyou're alone in this, because
you're not.
All of us are in this togetheras we journey through the
winding roads of empathicparenting.
One of our greatest desires isto foster healthy emotional
(07:06):
expression and communicationwith our families.
Picture like a cozy haven whereeveryone feels safe to share
their feelings without fear ofjudgment or fear that somebody
else is going to get upset.
It's about creating a sacredspace where vulnerability is
celebrated, not shunned.
But if we're going to talkabout that cozy, serene place,
(07:28):
we also need to talk about thosefleeting moments of peace and
calm amidst the storm ofparenting as impasse right.
Sometimes it's like preciousgems hidden among like a
mountainous terrain.
There are always ways tocultivate those moments daily,
whether it's through mindfulnesspractices or grounding
(07:50):
exercises or simply carving outtime for your self-care.
Right, you can createtranquility amidst the chaos.
It's just a choice.
We have to prioritize it and Iwant you to remember that to
equip your children with thetools to navigate their own
emotions right, you want them tobe able to navigate their
(08:12):
emotions independently.
It's about empowering them tobecome the captains of their
emotional ships.
You want them to be able tonavigate turbulence with
confidence and resilience.
So it can be from teaching themindfulness to encouraging them
to have open dialogue abouttheir feelings.
You can actually help yourchildren cultivate emotional
(08:35):
intelligence that will servethem well into adulthood.
I often have people ask thequestion like how can I best
teach my highly sensitive childor my child who believe is an
empath?
How can I teach them to bounceback, be more resilient, to
manage their own big feelings?
And my answer is always bymodeling what it looks like to
(08:58):
do that right.
Our words to our children meanless than what we're doing in
front of our children.
So model mindfulness, modelboundaries, model being able to
manage and regulate youremotions.
Show them what it looks like.
So, ultimately, our deepestdesire as empathic parents is to
(09:20):
cultivate a sense of balanceand harmony within our family
dynamic.
It's about finding that sweetspot where empathy meets
boundaries, where compassion cancoexist with self care.
And while that journey may bechallenging at times and I get
(09:43):
that I want you to know thatevery step we take, every step
you take, brings you closer tocreating that loving, nurturing
environment that you and yourchildren deserve.
So what I would love for you todo is I want you to take these
desires right, these parentaldesires that we have, and I want
you to hold on to them.
And I want you to hold on tothem almost like they're beacons
(10:06):
of light, and I want you to usethem as guides whenever you're
going through darkness.
And speaking of darkness, whatI want to dive into now is I
want to talk about our deepestfears as empathic parents,
because, remember, we have ourdeepest desires, we have that
light.
So fear not when we go into thedarker fears of our minds,
(10:29):
right the darkest corners of ourminds together.
So I want you to picture thisit's late at night and you're
laying in bed and your mind'sracing with worries.
One of our biggest fears islosing our identity in the sea
of our children's emotions, likewe're drowning in their
(10:50):
feelings.
We're drowning in their needs.
We're struggling to find oursense of self amidst the chaos,
amidst our children's needs anddesires and fears.
Then there's also thislingering concern about
unintentionally passing on ouremotional struggles or patterns
(11:11):
to our kids.
Speaking for myself, I thinkone of the deepest pains a
parent can sit with is therealization that we have passed
on one of our biggest emotionalpains or struggles or traumas to
(11:31):
our children, unintentionally.
It's like the one thing wewanted no one none of our
children to feel.
They actually end up feelingit's like a blind spot for us.
We think, because we dosomething differently in action,
that we're not causing the sameemotional trauma.
(11:52):
It's a heavy burden to bear andwe want nothing more than to
shield our children from ourpain, and yet we fear that we
might inadvertently hand it downto them like an unwanted
inheritance.
But maybe what keeps us up atnight the most is the fear of
not being enough for ourchildren, of being unable to
(12:14):
support or guide them throughtheir emotional challenges.
It's like we're standing on theedge of a cliff, desperately
trying to hold on to ourchildren as they teeter on the
brink of their emotions, fearingthat one wrong move by us could
send them tumbling into theabyss.
And I want you to remember thetoll that happens to us when we
(12:37):
are overly empathetic andenmeshed or entangled in our
children's emotions takes aserious mental and emotional
toll on us.
It's like we're walking atightrope, balancing our need to
be there for our children withour need to care for ourselves.
But what if we fail?
What if we fall?
(12:57):
What if we need help findingour way back to solid ground?
And lastly, there's the fear ofnot being able to establish
healthy boundaries with ourchildren, leading to strained
relationships in the future.
We're walking through aminefield, basically constantly
on edge, never knowing where thenext explosion will occur.
(13:19):
But what if we could find a wayto navigate this minefield
together, like hand in hand withour children, forging a path of
love and understanding and opencommunication?
That's possible.
So, as we confront these fearshead on, it's important to
remember that we're not alonehere.
We're in this.
Together, we can overcome anyobstacle that stands in our way.
(13:42):
So, as we move forward, I wantus to keep our hearts open to
the possibilities, and what Iwant us to do now is shift our
focus to the light that guidesus forward.
So I want to uncover and talkabout the tools and strategies
that can help us navigate thecomplexities of empathic
(14:02):
parenting and those fears thatwe have, that kind of sometimes
battle with our desires.
I want us to be able to parentwith grace and compassion.
So, first and foremost, let'stalk about prioritizing self
care.
So picture this you've had areally long day, your child
(14:23):
struggles with intense emotionsand you feel like you're on the
brink of burnout.
This is when self care becomesnon-negotiable.
Now here's the thing I say.
This is when self-care isnon-negotiable no matter what.
But this is one of thosesituations where you have to
pause and maybe add some extraself-care in right.
(14:45):
A lot of times, what we can dois the more stress we're under,
the more we pull back from theextra care that we give
ourselves.
So in this situation, it's ahighly stressful situation, so
self-care in that moment has tobe non-negotiable.
You can't drop your self-careroutine even though you're
really stressed.
So I want you to take a momentto pause and ask yourself what
(15:09):
do I need right now?
What do I need to replenish myenergy?
Whether it's taking a few deepbreaths, whether it's taking
some time for yourself, whetherit's stepping outside for a
brief walk or maybe diving intoyour favorite hobby, or you just
wanna permit yourself toprioritize your wellbeing.
(15:31):
Next, super important andsomething I struggled with many
years with my kids, was settingand maintaining boundaries.
I want you to imagine yourchild is upset and seeking
comfort, but you're alreadyfeeling emotionally drained,
right?
Maybe you can feel the anxietybuilding up in your chest.
(15:52):
So this is when it's crucial tohonor your limits and
communicate them kindly butfirmly.
You might say something like Iunderstand you're upset and I'm
here for you, but I need just afew minutes to recharge.
Let's talk about it after I'vehad a chance to take care of
myself.
Or you can even set a timeboundary Give mom 15 minutes,
(16:17):
I'll meet you in your room in 15minutes and we'll talk all
about it.
So, by setting boundaries,you're teaching your child
remember you're modeling, soyou're teaching your child the
importance of self care andmodeling healthy emotional
boundaries.
You're also teaching your childthat it's not just about what
another person needs in thatmoment, it's about what you need
(16:39):
to.
So it's about coming togetheras two people, honoring where
both of you are at.
Communication, as we all knowright, is key to fostering a
healthy family dynamic.
So imagine a scenario whereyour child struggles to express
their emotions and you sensetension.
(16:59):
Right, you can sense thetension within your family and
this is an opportunity to createa space for open dialogue,
right?
So you can sit down with yourchild, encourage them to share
their thoughts without judgment.
This is when you activelylisten, you validate their
feelings and you offer gentleguidance if needed.
(17:21):
By practicing compassionatecommunication, you're
strengthening your bond withyour child and nurturing their
emotional intelligence.
Now, I get it sometimes and thisis part of your journey of
self-awareness, and noticing iswhat comes up within your body
when your child is expressingtheir emotions or maybe having a
(17:44):
difficult time with theiremotions.
How much of that do you take on?
And, because you take that on,how does that affect how you
listen?
How does that affect how youare able to validate their
feelings?
How often are you trying totalk them out of their feelings
or tell them they'reoverreacting or need to calm
(18:08):
down?
Those small moments we can takeof noticing what's coming up
for us can be a clue that maybewe should consider seeking
support right from otherempathic parents or a therapist,
especially in empathicparenting.
Imagine you're feelingoverwhelmed by all the unique
(18:28):
challenges of raising a highlysensitive child and being an
empath, and your cravingguidance and understanding from
someone who truly gets it, andthis is when reaching out for
support can make all thedifference right.
So you're not crazy.
You're not a bad parent.
You're learning to navigateyour emotions and your reactions
(18:50):
to others' emotions, just asyour child is.
So, whether you join a supportgroup or attend a workshop or
schedule regular sessions with atherapist, I want you to accept
the invitation to surroundyourself with a supportive
community that can provideinvaluable insights and
validation.
(19:11):
And finally, let's talk aboutthe act of self compassion.
So I want you to think about amoment that you were overwhelmed
by self doubt and criticism.
Maybe you were questioning thatyou weren't doing enough for
your child.
This is when self compassionbecomes essential.
(19:32):
I want you to take a step backand remind yourself that you're
doing the best that you can withthe tools that you have and
acknowledge your efforts.
Celebrate your successes,celebrate the fact that you're
listening to this podcast andyou're open to learning and
growing along with your child,and offer yourself the same
kindness and understanding thatyou would to a dear friend.
(19:55):
So, by practicing selfcompassion, you're cultivating
resilience and nurturing yourinner strength.
So, as you navigate thecomplexities of raising empathic
children, highly sensitivechildren or being an empath
yourself, I want you to rememberto prioritize self care.
Get really good at settingboundaries, kindly communicate
(20:22):
openly, seek support when youneed it and practice self
compassion.
So you'll navigate empathicparenting with grace and
compassion by implementing theseconcrete tools and strategies
every day.
As we come to an end of today'sepisode, I want to thank you
(20:43):
for joining me for thecomplexities of empathic
parenting, and remember you'renot alone in your experiences
and your frustrations, and yourdesires and your fears.
As parents, we can support eachother and navigate this
beautiful yet challengingparenting path with empathy and
compassion.
If you're craving moreconnection and support, remember
(21:06):
I invite you to join RealizeEmpath Community at
RealizeImpathcom.
As a member, you'll be thefirst to know about upcoming
retreats, events and resourcestailored specifically for
empaths and highly sensitivepeople.
Whether you seek guidance,inspiration or a space to share
your experiences, the RealizeEmpath Community is here for you
(21:30):
.
Until next time, remember tonurture yourself as much as you
nurture your children.
Take care, dear empathicparents, and may you find peace
and joy in every moment.
This is Kristin Schwartz, yourempath counselor, signing off.
See you next time, you guys.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Thanks for listening to the Realize Empath Podcast.
Revisit past episodes orcontact Kristin at
RealizeEmpathcom.
Did you love this episode?
Please share it with a friend.
Thanks for tuning in, Untilnext time.
Sensitive souls.
You're listening to the Realized Empath Podcast,
where we get real about lovingand stumbling through our
sensitive lives with your hostand holistic counselor, Kristen
Schwartz, who helps redefinewhat's possible for an empath
who embraces a path ofself-healing.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hello, beautiful souls, and welcome back to the
Realized Empath Podcast.
I'm Kristen Schwartz, your host, and I'm beyond thrilled to
reconnect with you all after mytransformative journey at the
Realized Empath retreat in thelush, soul-stirring landscapes
of Costa Rica.
It was so amazing.
There aren't even words todescribe this experience, which
(00:47):
was like no other.
It was a profound immersioninto the depths of empathy and
self-discovery that really leftme inspired, utterly inspired
and rejuvenated, though women,the sensitive souls that joined
me on this adventure, were justeverything and more.
It's like picture this, likewe're all surrounded by the
(01:11):
vibrant hues of tropical flora,the soothing melodies of nature,
symphony and the warm embraceof like-hearted souls, and we
delve deep into the essence ofwhat it means to be a realized
empath.
And we did it throughsoul-nourishing workshops,
heart-opening force, meditationsand soulful connections.
(01:37):
And yes, I got to see a sloth,which I was really excited.
It was like one of the firstthings that I wanted to witness.
And I got to see my first slothon the very first day of our
adventure, and then I got to seeone on our last day, so I was
so excited.
I uncovered so many layers ofinsights and wisdom, and it's
(01:59):
forever transferred my approachto empathic adventure.
And here's the best part.
I'm already like eagerlyplanning the next adventure and
want you to join me.
Yes, you heard me right.
If you're craving your journeyof self-discovery and
empowerment and you love traveland adventure, you have to join
(02:22):
us next time for our realizedempath retreat.
I invite you to join my emaillist over at realizedempathcom
because next Wednesday I'm goingto be sending out an email and
asking you all what places wouldyou like to journey to?
What countries?
What states inside the US?
I'm curious and I'm reallyexcited to uncover where our
(02:45):
next retreat will be.
Even if you're not ready to goon a travel adventure with me,
you can be the first to knowabout upcoming workshops and
exclusive opportunities toembark on your empath healing
journey.
I'm going to be sending out anemail to opt-in to my email list
over at realizedempathcom.
Back to today's episode.
(03:07):
Today, what I want you to do issit back, relax as we dive into
and explore the frustrations,desires and fears of being an
empathic parent.
So get ready to embark on ajourney of self-discovery and
empowerment.
This episode is sure to answerall the questions that I get
(03:28):
over the years from empathparents and parents of highly
sensitive children.
So let's get started.
As parents, we understand theswirling sea of frustrations
that we can navigate daily.
So picture this it's a typicalmorning in your household.
Your child wakes up in awhirlwind of emotions and before
(03:49):
you even had your sip ofmorning tea, you're already on
that emotional roller coaster ofthe day.
It's like riding a never-endingroller coaster, from tears over
spilled cereal to meltdownsover mismatched socks.
As empathic parents, we oftenstruggle to maintain boundaries
between our emotions and ourchildren's.
(04:10):
It's as if an invisible ropeconnects us to their every
feeling, making it challengingto distinguish where they end
and where we, as parents, begin.
And let me be honest, it can beexhausting.
So how often have you foundyourself overwhelmed by the
(04:30):
sheer intensity of your child'semotions, feeling like you're
drowning in a sea of feelingsthat aren't your own?
But maybe the most insidiousfrustration of it all is the
guilt, right.
The guilt that creeps in whenwe can't fix or solve all of our
children's emotional struggles,or the guilt that creeps in
(04:53):
that we can't protect them fromsimilar pain that we had when we
were kids.
We tell ourselves that weshould be able to kiss away
their tears or banish theirfears with a hug.
But the truth is we're onlyhuman and we can't always be
everything to everyone.
And yet the parental guiltpersists right, weighing heavily
(05:15):
on our hearts and minds.
And let's not forget that thetoll that it takes on us, the
constant absorbing of ourchildren's emotions, leaves us
drained and depleted.
It's like we're emotionalsponges soaking up every sigh,
every fleeting moment offrustration.
And how often have you feltjust spent at the end of the day
(05:40):
, feeling like you had nothingleft to give.
As we navigate thesefrustrations together, I want
you to remember that sometimes,feeling overwhelmed is okay.
It's okay to set boundaries andprioritize your self-care needs
, even when the demands ofparenting are ever-present.
And, most importantly, it'sokay to ask for help when you
(06:02):
need it.
We can weather the storm ofempathic parenting one emotional
wave at a time.
And regarding emotional storms,right, what I want to do is I
want to move and focus on ourdeepest desires as parents, as
impasse to our parents, orparents who are, who children
(06:23):
are highly sensitive.
So, as empathic parents, so asempathic parents, we long for a
deeper understanding of ouremotional boundaries and we
really want to know how tomaintain them.
Raise your hand, if you getthat.
It's like searching for theelusive treasure map to navigate
(06:45):
the seas right of parenthood.
But here's what I don't wantyou to fear.
I don't want you to fear thatyou're alone in this, because
you're not.
All of us are in this togetheras we journey through the
winding roads of empathicparenting.
One of our greatest desires isto foster healthy emotional
(07:06):
expression and communicationwith our families.
Picture like a cozy haven whereeveryone feels safe to share
their feelings without fear ofjudgment or fear that somebody
else is going to get upset.
It's about creating a sacredspace where vulnerability is
celebrated, not shunned.
But if we're going to talkabout that cozy, serene place,
(07:28):
we also need to talk about thosefleeting moments of peace and
calm amidst the storm ofparenting as impasse right.
Sometimes it's like preciousgems hidden among like a
mountainous terrain.
There are always ways tocultivate those moments daily,
whether it's through mindfulnesspractices or grounding
(07:50):
exercises or simply carving outtime for your self-care.
Right, you can createtranquility amidst the chaos.
It's just a choice.
We have to prioritize it and Iwant you to remember that to
equip your children with thetools to navigate their own
emotions right, you want them tobe able to navigate their
(08:12):
emotions independently.
It's about empowering them tobecome the captains of their
emotional ships.
You want them to be able tonavigate turbulence with
confidence and resilience.
So it can be from teaching themindfulness to encouraging them
to have open dialogue abouttheir feelings.
You can actually help yourchildren cultivate emotional
(08:35):
intelligence that will servethem well into adulthood.
I often have people ask thequestion like how can I best
teach my highly sensitive childor my child who believe is an
empath?
How can I teach them to bounceback, be more resilient, to
manage their own big feelings?
And my answer is always bymodeling what it looks like to
(08:58):
do that right.
Our words to our children meanless than what we're doing in
front of our children.
So model mindfulness, modelboundaries, model being able to
manage and regulate youremotions.
Show them what it looks like.
So, ultimately, our deepestdesire as empathic parents is to
(09:20):
cultivate a sense of balanceand harmony within our family
dynamic.
It's about finding that sweetspot where empathy meets
boundaries, where compassion cancoexist with self care.
And while that journey may bechallenging at times and I get
(09:43):
that I want you to know thatevery step we take, every step
you take, brings you closer tocreating that loving, nurturing
environment that you and yourchildren deserve.
So what I would love for you todo is I want you to take these
desires right, these parentaldesires that we have, and I want
you to hold on to them.
And I want you to hold on tothem almost like they're beacons
(10:06):
of light, and I want you to usethem as guides whenever you're
going through darkness.
And speaking of darkness, whatI want to dive into now is I
want to talk about our deepestfears as empathic parents,
because, remember, we have ourdeepest desires, we have that
light.
So fear not when we go into thedarker fears of our minds,
(10:29):
right the darkest corners of ourminds together.
So I want you to picture thisit's late at night and you're
laying in bed and your mind'sracing with worries.
One of our biggest fears islosing our identity in the sea
of our children's emotions, likewe're drowning in their
(10:50):
feelings.
We're drowning in their needs.
We're struggling to find oursense of self amidst the chaos,
amidst our children's needs anddesires and fears.
Then there's also thislingering concern about
unintentionally passing on ouremotional struggles or patterns
(11:11):
to our kids.
Speaking for myself, I thinkone of the deepest pains a
parent can sit with is therealization that we have passed
on one of our biggest emotionalpains or struggles or traumas to
(11:31):
our children, unintentionally.
It's like the one thing wewanted no one none of our
children to feel.
They actually end up feelingit's like a blind spot for us.
We think, because we dosomething differently in action,
that we're not causing the sameemotional trauma.
(11:52):
It's a heavy burden to bear andwe want nothing more than to
shield our children from ourpain, and yet we fear that we
might inadvertently hand it downto them like an unwanted
inheritance.
But maybe what keeps us up atnight the most is the fear of
not being enough for ourchildren, of being unable to
(12:14):
support or guide them throughtheir emotional challenges.
It's like we're standing on theedge of a cliff, desperately
trying to hold on to ourchildren as they teeter on the
brink of their emotions, fearingthat one wrong move by us could
send them tumbling into theabyss.
And I want you to remember thetoll that happens to us when we
(12:37):
are overly empathetic andenmeshed or entangled in our
children's emotions takes aserious mental and emotional
toll on us.
It's like we're walking atightrope, balancing our need to
be there for our children withour need to care for ourselves.
But what if we fail?
What if we fall?
(12:57):
What if we need help findingour way back to solid ground?
And lastly, there's the fear ofnot being able to establish
healthy boundaries with ourchildren, leading to strained
relationships in the future.
We're walking through aminefield, basically constantly
on edge, never knowing where thenext explosion will occur.
(13:19):
But what if we could find a wayto navigate this minefield
together, like hand in hand withour children, forging a path of
love and understanding and opencommunication?
That's possible.
So, as we confront these fearshead on, it's important to
remember that we're not alonehere.
We're in this.
Together, we can overcome anyobstacle that stands in our way.
(13:42):
So, as we move forward, I wantus to keep our hearts open to
the possibilities, and what Iwant us to do now is shift our
focus to the light that guidesus forward.
So I want to uncover and talkabout the tools and strategies
that can help us navigate thecomplexities of empathic
(14:02):
parenting and those fears thatwe have, that kind of sometimes
battle with our desires.
I want us to be able to parentwith grace and compassion.
So, first and foremost, let'stalk about prioritizing self
care.
So picture this you've had areally long day, your child
(14:23):
struggles with intense emotionsand you feel like you're on the
brink of burnout.
This is when self care becomesnon-negotiable.
Now here's the thing I say.
This is when self-care isnon-negotiable no matter what.
But this is one of thosesituations where you have to
pause and maybe add some extraself-care in right.
(14:45):
A lot of times, what we can dois the more stress we're under,
the more we pull back from theextra care that we give
ourselves.
So in this situation, it's ahighly stressful situation, so
self-care in that moment has tobe non-negotiable.
You can't drop your self-careroutine even though you're
really stressed.
So I want you to take a momentto pause and ask yourself what
(15:09):
do I need right now?
What do I need to replenish myenergy?
Whether it's taking a few deepbreaths, whether it's taking
some time for yourself, whetherit's stepping outside for a
brief walk or maybe diving intoyour favorite hobby, or you just
wanna permit yourself toprioritize your wellbeing.
(15:31):
Next, super important andsomething I struggled with many
years with my kids, was settingand maintaining boundaries.
I want you to imagine yourchild is upset and seeking
comfort, but you're alreadyfeeling emotionally drained,
right?
Maybe you can feel the anxietybuilding up in your chest.
(15:52):
So this is when it's crucial tohonor your limits and
communicate them kindly butfirmly.
You might say something like Iunderstand you're upset and I'm
here for you, but I need just afew minutes to recharge.
Let's talk about it after I'vehad a chance to take care of
myself.
Or you can even set a timeboundary Give mom 15 minutes,
(16:17):
I'll meet you in your room in 15minutes and we'll talk all
about it.
So, by setting boundaries,you're teaching your child
remember you're modeling, soyou're teaching your child the
importance of self care andmodeling healthy emotional
boundaries.
You're also teaching your childthat it's not just about what
another person needs in thatmoment, it's about what you need
(16:39):
to.
So it's about coming togetheras two people, honoring where
both of you are at.
Communication, as we all knowright, is key to fostering a
healthy family dynamic.
So imagine a scenario whereyour child struggles to express
their emotions and you sensetension.
(16:59):
Right, you can sense thetension within your family and
this is an opportunity to createa space for open dialogue,
right?
So you can sit down with yourchild, encourage them to share
their thoughts without judgment.
This is when you activelylisten, you validate their
feelings and you offer gentleguidance if needed.
(17:21):
By practicing compassionatecommunication, you're
strengthening your bond withyour child and nurturing their
emotional intelligence.
Now, I get it sometimes and thisis part of your journey of
self-awareness, and noticing iswhat comes up within your body
when your child is expressingtheir emotions or maybe having a
(17:44):
difficult time with theiremotions.
How much of that do you take on?
And, because you take that on,how does that affect how you
listen?
How does that affect how youare able to validate their
feelings?
How often are you trying totalk them out of their feelings
or tell them they'reoverreacting or need to calm
(18:08):
down?
Those small moments we can takeof noticing what's coming up
for us can be a clue that maybewe should consider seeking
support right from otherempathic parents or a therapist,
especially in empathicparenting.
Imagine you're feelingoverwhelmed by all the unique
(18:28):
challenges of raising a highlysensitive child and being an
empath, and your cravingguidance and understanding from
someone who truly gets it, andthis is when reaching out for
support can make all thedifference right.
So you're not crazy.
You're not a bad parent.
You're learning to navigateyour emotions and your reactions
(18:50):
to others' emotions, just asyour child is.
So, whether you join a supportgroup or attend a workshop or
schedule regular sessions with atherapist, I want you to accept
the invitation to surroundyourself with a supportive
community that can provideinvaluable insights and
validation.
(19:11):
And finally, let's talk aboutthe act of self compassion.
So I want you to think about amoment that you were overwhelmed
by self doubt and criticism.
Maybe you were questioning thatyou weren't doing enough for
your child.
This is when self compassionbecomes essential.
(19:32):
I want you to take a step backand remind yourself that you're
doing the best that you can withthe tools that you have and
acknowledge your efforts.
Celebrate your successes,celebrate the fact that you're
listening to this podcast andyou're open to learning and
growing along with your child,and offer yourself the same
kindness and understanding thatyou would to a dear friend.
(19:55):
So, by practicing selfcompassion, you're cultivating
resilience and nurturing yourinner strength.
So, as you navigate thecomplexities of raising empathic
children, highly sensitivechildren or being an empath
yourself, I want you to rememberto prioritize self care.
Get really good at settingboundaries, kindly communicate
(20:22):
openly, seek support when youneed it and practice self
compassion.
So you'll navigate empathicparenting with grace and
compassion by implementing theseconcrete tools and strategies
every day.
As we come to an end of today'sepisode, I want to thank you
(20:43):
for joining me for thecomplexities of empathic
parenting, and remember you'renot alone in your experiences
and your frustrations, and yourdesires and your fears.
As parents, we can support eachother and navigate this
beautiful yet challengingparenting path with empathy and
compassion.
If you're craving moreconnection and support, remember
(21:06):
I invite you to join RealizeEmpath Community at
RealizeImpathcom.
As a member, you'll be thefirst to know about upcoming
retreats, events and resourcestailored specifically for
empaths and highly sensitivepeople.
Whether you seek guidance,inspiration or a space to share
your experiences, the RealizeEmpath Community is here for you
(21:30):
.
Until next time, remember tonurture yourself as much as you
nurture your children.
Take care, dear empathicparents, and may you find peace
and joy in every moment.
This is Kristin Schwartz, yourempath counselor, signing off.
See you next time, you guys.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Thanks for listening to the Realize Empath Podcast.
Revisit past episodes orcontact Kristin at
RealizeEmpathcom.
Did you love this episode?
Please share it with a friend.
Thanks for tuning in, Untilnext time.
Sensitive souls.
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