Hi, everyone! My name is Gretchen Gatan and I’m a writer and editor based in Metro Manila, Philippines. I’m also a first-time mom to a one-year-old daughter named Cambria. Welcome to Greta’s Junkyard where I like to write about my favorite things! Here, you’ll find a dump of topics that include beauty, lifestyle, travel, home, and motherhood.
Recently, I guested on One News PH‘s Inay Ko Po.Inay Ko Po Segment
They invited me to be a guest last January 28 because the topic was about gentle parenting—a parenting style that truly resonates with me. But because I feel like there’s still so much for me to learn, I asked them if I could also invite my kabarkada from Poveda, Bloss Villafuerte. Bloss happens to be a certified child development coach as well as the School Director of Smallville Montessori Circulo Verde. She’s an advocate of gentle parenting as well. I knew she’d have a lot of insights to share about the positive effects of gentle parenting.
What is Gentle Parenting?
According to Very Well Family:
Gentle parenting is an evidence-based approach to raising happy, confident children. This parenting style is composed of four main elements—empathy, respect, understanding, and boundaries—and focuses on fostering the qualities you want in your child by being compassionate and enforcing consistent boundaries. Unlike some more lenient parenting methods, gentle parenting encourages age-appropriate discipline that teaches valuable life lessons.
Those who practice gentle parenting encourage working together as a family to teach their children to express their feelings, but in a socially acceptable, age-appropriate manner. Gentle parenting is viewed as a beneficial method for raising happy, independent, and confident children.
Very Well Family
Why do I like this parenting style?
My parents practiced a traditional parenting style—something they learned from their own parents. And while I love and appreciate my parents, I feel like there are more resources and research nowadays to break away from traditional parenting styles that have a tendency to affect children negatively. This is why gentle parenting resonates with me. Through this parenting style, I hope to create a safe space for Cambria to grow, discover herself, and most importantly, not be afraid to make mistakes. I want to form a solid connection where she can confidently express herself to me and her dad, my husband Cayo.
Again, I know I still have much to learn and many challenges to overcome. But as Bloss said, there is no parenting manual on how to parent the right way. What works for one family might not work for another. So it’s all about building a connection, getting to know your child, and finding a style that works for everyone.
If in case you’d like to stay updated with me on social media, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube at @gretchengatan.