The Link Between Holistic Health and Parenting

Imagine if every choice you made in handling your emotions could shape your child’s future health, happiness, and resilience.

In case you need a preview, read the following points and save it for later. You’ll benefit from this one.

• How we build (or shake) a child’s sense of self-worth through everyday parenting

• Why resilience begins with accepting (not fixing) sensitivity

• Real-life examples: emotional storms (on both sides), potty training, and stories

• A holistic approach to parenting that supports nervous system health, breaks generational trauma, and includes extended breastfeeding and fearless play

• And a short, practical gift at the end: 5 ways to practice mindful emotional awareness in your parenting

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The way we approach parenting doesn't just influence behavior, it leaves lasting imprints on emotional and physical well-being. Respectful parenting, grounded in health and self-awareness, gives us the chance to raise balanced, resilient individuals.

Accepting the Child’s True Self: Foundations of Self-Worth

When I honor my child’s true needs without trying to fit her into an idealized mold, I teach her the value of self-acceptance. Respectful parenting starts with being there for my child, not just during her joyful moments, but during her most intense emotions.

By supporting her, even in her strongest emotions, and resisting the urge to suppress or diminish those feelings, I help her learn to accept herself fully. Instead of pushing her to fit into an external idea of "good behavior," I model how to embrace who she truly is. This builds emotional resilience, and with it, the confidence to handle challenges.

In parenting, I am always striving to show my daughter that she is more than enough, just as she is. This sense of self-worth is essential for her emotional development and overall well-being.

If you are curious about my mothering journey that led me towards embracing this approach, you can read it here.

Everyday Examples of Holistic Parenting

1. Nurturing Emotional Resilience Through Real-Life Scenario

For example, when my daughter cries during the day, whether because something doesn’t work out for her, she wants something she cannot have, or even when her reasons are unclear, I always let her feel those emotions. I don’t try to stop her, divert her attention, or shame her. From developmental psychology, I know that when a child is experiencing strong emotions, their brain isn’t fully receptive—it’s as if they can’t hear, and they certainly aren’t learning anything new in that moment.

Instead, I wait for the emotional storm to pass and address it afterward. Together with my husband, we talk with our daughter, apologize when necessary, and discuss how we might handle similar situations differently in the future. Most importantly, we acknowledge how we feel, modeling emotional awareness and self-acceptance.

2. Encouraging Natural Growth Through Developmental Milestones

Potty training provided a perfect example of this approach. External pressure suggested she was wearing diapers for too long and should already be using the potty. However, I stood by her and always communicated openly. After all, it’s her body and her basic needs, and she deserves to handle them in a way that feels right for her. I emphasized that everyone develops at their own pace and avoided comparisons. Today, I can’t even recall the exact time when she stopped wearing diapers—it happened naturally when she was ready.

3. What If Your Child Is Too Sensitive for Most Stories?

I also emphasize her individual feelings and needs when it comes to children stories. She is very sensitive, and if there’s any negative element in a story—whether it’s being read, listened to, or watched—she doesn’t want to continue. She worries about every new story. When she feels ready and gets to know a story at her own pace, she enjoys it repeatedly.

I never push her, even though I know that most children her age are familiar with these stories. She is enough with her perception, sensitivity, and fears just as she is. She doesn’t need to force herself. Similarly, as her mother, I am enough, even if my daughter doesn’t meet all societal expectations in every category. Pressuring her sensitivity when she isn’t ready for something doesn’t seem right for her psychological development.

When we honor a child’s emotions, we help them build the resilience to handle life’s challenges.

If the topic of high sensitivity interest you, read also my Highly Sensitive Mini Series.

Emotional Regulation and Trauma: The Impact on Health

My understanding of emotional regulation doesn’t just impact my child’s behavior—it affects her health, too. When I support her through her emotional highs and lows, I give her the tools to process her feelings and move through them, rather than suppressing them. This not only nurtures her mental well-being but also influences her physical health.

Through my studies of developmental psychology, trauma and psychosomatics, I’ve come to understand that emotions stored in the body (unexpressed or unresolved) can manifest as physical symptoms or long-term mental health issues.

Emotions that go unexpressed often find their way into the body, manifesting as physical or mental health issues.

Conscious Parenting: Modeling Emotional Awareness

As I learn to listen to my own body and emotions, I am not only healing myself but also setting an example for my daughter. I’m teaching her that emotions are natural and deserve attention, not suppression. By embracing this approach, I don’t just prevent unnecessary emotional blocks, I help her understand her emotions, her needs, and her strengths.

Children learn by example, and when my daughter sees me handle my emotions with awareness, she absorbs these practices. The way I react to my emotional triggers teaches her how to respond to hers.

Building Emotional Resilience: A Packing-Day Example

Recently, I felt strong emotions while we were packing for a trip. I was under time pressure, and despite my daughter’s efforts to pack on her own, she naturally couldn’t relieve me of many of my responsibilities. As the minutes ticked by, my stress built, and I became unpleasant and on the verge of tears.

I stopped, took a deep breath, and allowed myself to cry. My daughter was there with me—likely a little scared and confused—but that moment of emotional release helped me explain to her (and myself) why I was feeling this way. I shared that it stemmed from my past, where I was often under time pressure at the expense of harmonious living. It’s rooted in my need for control and perfection—a defensive reaction to a traumatizing past.

I reassured her that my stress wasn’t about her and that she didn’t deserve my unpleasant behavior. I explained this in an age-appropriate way, apologized, and outlined the tasks I’d focus on versus those I would let go of.

While I don’t know if this approach is perfect, it’s one of the ways we navigate emotions at home. I believe it helps her see how emotions can be managed, even in challenging situations.

When we model emotional awareness, we equip our children with the tools to understand and process their own feelings.

Psychosomatics and Holistic Health: Beyond Fear of Illness

My approach to health isn’t only about emotions—it also extends to how I view and handle illness. Like many of us, I carry patterns from how my parents responded to sickness, and in many cases, those patterns revolve around fear, worry, or avoidance of deeper healing.

I am personally transitioning toward a more holistic understanding of health. I’m learning not to fear illness or symptoms and to avoid catastrophizing whenever my family or I face a health challenge. My study of psychosomatics has reshaped my understanding of illness—not as something random that happens to us but as a logical response to how we live, manage stress, and navigate our social, psychological, and physical environments.

Illness is not a random occurrence but often the natural outcome of how we live.

I intend to explore this topic further in future posts—so stay tuned! For now, it’s something I’m consciously working on, and I’m striving to pass this understanding on to my child. I believe this new perspective is more empowering than living in fear of illness or placing complete reliance on external experts. It’s about developing a relationship of trust and understanding with our bodies.

Breaking Generational Patterns with Holistic and Mindful Parenting

This path to mindful, health-conscious parenting isn’t always easy. As parents, we often find ourselves going against societal norms and expectations, especially those that emphasize quick fixes over deeper emotional and physical healing. However, this conscious approach to health and parenting is one that has the potential to nurture growth and empower change not only in our children but in ourselves.

By focusing on both emotional and physical well-being, we are breaking generational patterns of fear and emotional suppression. This allows us to create a foundation of resilience that will benefit our children for a lifetime. While challenging, this approach offers the potential for a healthier, more connected society.

Parent and child rooted in nature — symbolism captured by DALL·E.

Extended Breastfeeding: Supporting Natural Growth and Holistic Health

Breastfeeding as a Contact and Conscious Parenting Practice, Backed by Research

For us, extended, on-demand breastfeeding has been a very prominent and important topic. Beyond the fact that my child instinctively wanted to breastfeed, I researched extensively and discovered just how crucial breastfeeding is for children’s development.

Despite the established norms of modern society, I chose to embrace and guide her natural development and genuine needs. Extended breastfeeding isn’t just a choice—it’s a commitment to trust the body’s instincts and respect my child’s timeline. And this doesn’t even touch on the profound support it offers for the mother-child connection.

Extended Breastfeeding Benefits: Emotional and Physical Health

Main benefits of breastfeeding:

• Fostering secure attachment

• Supporting immune system health

• Enhancing cognitive development

• Nurturing emotional well-being

I know this topic could warrant a separate publication. Many passionate advocates are working to share knowledge about breastfeeding, especially as it seems modern society often overlooks its profound significance. By sharing my experience, I hope to normalize extended breastfeeding and inspire others to trust their instincts.

Empowering Physical Resilience Through Play: A Holistic Parenting Approach

When we talk about health, one important aspect is, of course, physical development and fitness.

For instance, climbing playground structures helped me work through my own fears. I realized that while I might never attempt such things myself, accepting her desire to climb and understanding how self-confidence and gross motor skills are built were key.

Similarly, when she started climbing playground equipment, I consciously avoided instilling fear in her or telling her not to climb too high, despite hearing those warnings from others. I reflected on my own fears, rooted in a childhood where my family was overly concerned about my physical health and often scared me with catastrophic scenarios about falling. I accepted that I didn’t have to pass this onto my daughter.

I talked to her about climbing as high as she could while ensuring she could climb down on her own. I didn’t help unnecessarily; I just stayed nearby to spot her. Today, she is confident and climbs wherever she sets her mind to. And believe me, most of the other parents on the playground watch us with a mix of curiosity and concern, likely wondering if I’ll intervene though I’m confident in her ability to navigate these challenges herself.

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Reflecting on the Journey: Holistic and Mindful Parenting Insights

These examples are just a small part of how holistic parenting shows up in everyday life. By trusting my child’s natural development and addressing my own fears and patterns, I’ve been able to foster a stronger connection with her and a greater sense of confidence in her abilities.

Parenting in this way not only nurtures our children’s growth but also allows us to evolve as individuals. By embracing this conscious approach, we’re creating a legacy of resilience, connection, and well-being for generations to come.

5 Ways to Practice Mindful Emotional Awareness in Your Parenting

Here are some actionable ways I’ve learned to bring emotional awareness into everyday parenting.

1. Identify Your Emotional Triggers: Pay attention to the situations that cause you to react emotionally. Journaling or mindfulness practices can help you pinpoint patterns.

2. Pause Before Reacting: Take a moment to breathe and reflect before responding to your child’s emotional outbursts. This helps you stay calm and set a better example.

3. Model Emotional Regulation: Share your feelings in an age-appropriate way and demonstrate how to work through them.

4. Practice Reflective Listening: Show your child you understand their feelings by repeating back what you hear. For example, "You’re upset because you really wanted to play longer."

5. Create a Safe Space for Emotions: Make sure your home environment encourages open discussions about feelings without judgment or dismissal.

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If any part of this resonated - or challenged you - I’d love to hear your perspective.