a testimonial from parenting is personal…

The responses below come from a member of the first cohort of Parenting Is Personal (a container structured similarly to Being & Becoming) who shared these words halfway into the program.

I believe these words apply to Being & Becoming as well, because while the social identities people hold may be different across the groups, the ways in which I teach, share, facilitate, and hold the space will be similar for both.

[Note: their cohort met for 90 minutes — the Being & Becoming cohorts will meet for 2 hours per session]

What has your experience in Parenting Is Personal (PiP) been like?

My experience in PiP so far, has been affirming, understanding, embracing, explorative, accepting, at times hilarious, honest and caring, fully present, messy and supportive, trustworthy, transparent, kind --- could I really list any more adjectives!??!   This is a place where I show up... ALL of me, with ALL I've got... and am met with open arms that support me with whatever I desire and to go for I what want.  It's all there.

How would you describe PiP to other people?

I would describe PiP as finally finding a place to fully feel supported to be me -- to stumble, to be messy, to say the things, to name it and to be regarded for all of it.  It's the fastest 90 minutes of my week, as I listen, learn, explore, share, question, divest, learn, un-learn, deconstruct, experiment, challenge, stumble, reflect, connect, process and am always witnessed.  Here, the collective ... the individual and diverse experiences of our community are the teachers.  Nothing is answered, and at the same time, everything is answered ... choice by choice, moment by moment, we move together, toward understanding, relating and connecting. This is not a support group, and not even a place where the "day to day" issues of parenting dominate -- no, it is an unplanned adventure that we take together each week where we explore, process and connect through our common connection of being parents, who first and foremost are parenting ourselves.  Together, we are journeying the path of both being and becoming. 

How do you feel about your decision to join PiP?

Before PiP, I was working one on one with Nic in coaching sessions, which were amazing ... AND being part of the community is even more AMAZING, because not only do I get BOTH Nic's amazingness -- their personal experiences, full presence, thoughts, questions, understanding and nudges, but I ALSO get to witness and connect to the experiences, reflections and differences of each member of the group.  Personally, I have felt a huge surge of self-trust and confidence, by being part of such a supportive, and clear community, I am aware of my want to show up more fully, with what I've got each week (whatever that might be), trusting that through clear communication and active participation, there are ALWAYS deep lessons learned versus in other groups, where I was just a passive consumer of "knowledge and expertise." 

How would your experience in PiP compare to previous parenting group experiences you've had?

Ummm... not sure you can compare apples to oranges. :)   This is not about the how-to's, about sharing the expertise, about the tried and true strategies to get what you want from your relationship with your kid, or how to get your kid to .... This is a place for YOU ... not the person playing the role of parent, not the person looking for a better bedtime routine, or how to get your kids to eat more vegetables ...(though that definitely and might show up if you want it to)...at the heart of it, it's all about your relationship that you have with yourself.    A carefully crafted container where You are supported to move towards understanding, which then guides your choices, which then impacts your self-awareness and trust, which then impacts how you show up for yourself, which then impacts the moment by moment choices you make in parenting (yourself and your children).  It's all in there. It's both intense and completely compassionate.  In other parenting courses, my humanness was not seen or regarded, here, that is the curriculum.   I truly am so grateful for this experience ... I want more AND I want it for as many people as possible. 

— Nicole F.