Mary Alice Green, LMHC

02/11/2026

One of the quietest, and most powerful, lessons we can give our children is body awareness.

Not just “your hands are yours,”
but your body belongs to you.
Your feelings are real.
Your comfort matters.

In a world that often rushes past boundaries or treats them as optional, teaching a child to honor their own body, and the bodies of others, is more than protection.
It’s the beginning of emotional intelligence.
Of kindness.
Of self-worth.

It tells your child, both in words and in daily practice, you are worthy of respect.
That listening to themselves is not rude.
That saying no when something feels wrong is not selfish, it’s wisdom.

This kind of teaching doesn’t start with big conversations.
It starts early, in the small, ordinary moments we almost overlook.

When your toddler pulls away from a hug and you calmly say,
“That’s okay, you don’t have to hug if you don’t want to,”
you’re doing something profound.
You’re teaching them to trust their inner voice.

When you remind them,
“Always ask before touching someone else,”
you’re planting seeds of empathy and respect that will grow for a lifetime.

These moments may feel simple, but they are shaping how your child understands their body, their boundaries, and their worth.

When children learn to recognize their own limits, they naturally learn to honor the limits of others.
They discover that “no” isn’t a bad word.
It’s a form of protection.
A statement of dignity.
A kindness, to themselves and to the people around them.

And one day, you’ll see it in the little wins:
When your child confidently says, “Please don’t touch me.”
When they pause before a hug and ask, “Is this okay?”

Those aren’t just polite habits.
They’re proof that your teaching is taking root.

As parents, it can feel routine to say,
“Stop.”
“That’s enough.”
“Ask first.”

But these are not small moments.
They are acts of deep love.

Every boundary your child is allowed to set sends a clear message:
You matter.
Your body is yours.
Your voice deserves space.

And in a world that asks too much and moves too fast, giving a child the language and courage to say, “This doesn’t feel right,” may be one of the most loving things we ever do.

02/07/2026

02/07/2026

When we are busy, do we really listen to our children? Probably not because we’re often lost in our own thoughts, lost in our to-do-list and this is when our ability to really listen gets pushed aside and we find ourselves only half present to our child wants to say. When this happens, our child doesn’t feel that there was even a chance to be heard.

Most of the time, we just want our child to listen to what we want them to do - we want a fast response because our thoughts are so full of all that we need to do that we fall short when it comes to really listening to them and this is results in their negative behavior.

So how can we expect our child to really listen to us when the model that we’re giving them is the opposite? Parenting is so hard but when we make Mindfulness a daily practice we take small steps towards change.

Listening takes conscious effort especially when it means being mindful because in the “space” we create when we really listen we validate our child as a valuable member of the family. We validate our child’s right to be heard instead of feeling dismissed. We validate that they are important.

When we really listen to our child, we actually take the focus away from our need to defend our opinion or thoughts about what should happen or what we want to make our child do. Instead we create a loving space where the focus is solely on listening and being present.

After all, what they really want is for us to be present and they want to be heard!

Being heard is communication
Being heard builds trust
Being heard increases compassion
Being heard reduces conflict
Being heard lessens misunderstandings
Being heard deepens relationships

Continued in Comments 👇🏾

02/07/2026

Responsive parents hold themselves accountable for how their own conditioning and life experiences impact the way they react or respond to their child. Accountability is not the same as shame and guilt; it’s resisting the urge to deflect, minimize or distract. It’s about reflecting and being honest with our children when we have treated them in a way that may have hurt their heart.

Responsive Parents try to refrain from blaming their child for triggering big feelings inside of themselves. Instead they use reflective practice and mindfulness to process their emotions and seek understanding into their own thoughts, feelings and behaviours. They have patience with themselves and their children as they try to understand how their own past experiences may be affecting them today. They acknowledge when their emotional capacity is low and when they are in need of restorative self-care. They do not blame themselves for the challenges they face in life but they also do not blame their children. They acknowledge their efforts and reflect on the choices that did not align with their values.

By modelling accountability we show our children it’s not scary to admit we were wrong. Accountability is a skill that needs to be modelled instead of enforced. We hold ourselves accountable so our children can see how it’s done without guilt and shame.

Do you enjoy my posts about parenting? This post made the cut for my latest book. It’s a concept I’ve never seen before and I’m excited to be the first content creator to do this. I’ve taken my posts and created a book. The book is visually appealing and easy to read, just like when we scroll online or read a book to our child. You can read one post or a whole section. I know I’m bias but it is a must have for all parents who enjoy this page. It is also a way to pass on the knowledge you have gained from this account, to someone else.

Comment LOVE GROWS or go to the link in my bio to order your book today.

Title: Love Grows: A Collection of Works By J. Milburn

02/07/2026

02/07/2026

A reminder for the next time you’re in the thick of it. They’re not giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time. And they need you, now more than ever. Not a lesson, but your calm, loving, regulated presence.

When your child is at their ‘worst’, in their lowest moments, when they tell you they hate you…this is where you earn your parenting stripes. THIS is where you amplify and deepen connection. Resist feeling triggered…let this be about them, not you. And my #1 tip…do not take it personally! ♥️

02/07/2026

Self-soothing isn’t taught through loneliness.
It’s built through connection.

When we consistently comfort our children, we become the calm they eventually learn to carry inside themselves. 🤍

02/04/2026

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02/03/2026

01/28/2026

01/28/2026