Carole Levy
What do you do as a parent when your two to three year old throws food in your face? How do you respond when your four year old has a meltdown? Or what’s the approach when your six-year-old refuses to listen?
As mums, we’ve all faced these scenarios and it can be upsetting and make us feel powerless and inadequate.
We can get conflicting advice that makes it even more confusing.
It’s for all these reasons that Miranda Hodge, mother of three young kids, launched Smart Mama Smart Kids Parenting in Geelong with one-on-one online coaching sessions, designed to help parents with wise strategies to manage behaviour and emotions and strengthening connections with your child.
ABOUT MIRANDA
“I’ve always loved kids. I was the child with a baby constantly on my hip. I worked casually at a childcare facility to support myself through university before becoming a primary school teacher,” she says.
“I loved working with the children – and I was good at it. When I worked as a school teacher, I observed how parents and children interacted, and what I saw sometimes wasn’t very positive. I strongly believe that what happens within schools – and families – is a microcosm of society and felt sure there was a ‘better way’.”
“Then my husband of 13 years and I started our own family, where we faced the meltdowns and biting and defiance for ourselves. We were lucky to be surrounded by lots of support, but not all parents have that.
“It kicked off my journey into lots of research, experimenting with strategies, and taking note of successes, what actually worked.
“My aim was always to strengthen the bonds between me and my kids, teaching them how to handle their emotions, and to use a communication style tailored to particular issues. And it worked! Today, my three under-sevens understand that what we do is about keeping them content, able to deal with emotions in a positive way, and creating a safe space to develop their full potential.”
THE INITIAL FREE CONSULTATION
“I chat with mums for 20 minutes, either by phone or Zoom, to establish how I can help. The first step is encouraging them to feel more settled and that they’re not alone, explaining that together we can develop strategies to make them feel more confident.
From there, we set up coaching sessions to discuss any tricky topics, such as:
■ Emotions and how we can learn to process – and help our child do the same
■ Helping your child learn resilience and life skills
■ Building independence in your child
■ Parent intention plans
■ Implementing a routine in your parenting or home life
■ How you can help your child learn
■ Strategies around child behaviour
■ Changing mindsets and increasing gratitude
■ What to do when you don’t know what to do
■ Learning to see the good in your child – and tell them!
“By the end, we will discuss moving forward with a plan of action if you decide you are ready to get intentional with your parenting.”
Miranda also does speaking engagements for mums’ groups, schools and conferences, sharing strategies in a wise, humble and non-judgemental way. She also runs group workshops, either live or online, with questions fielded at the end.
She describes herself as “just a humble mum” but her excellent life coach skills could change your and your children’s life to one of the joyful confidence.
Call Smart Mama Smart Kids Parenting on 0412 610 983 or visit www.smartmamasmartkids.com to enrol for the free initial consultation.
