Parenting

Make Parenting Easier and Empower Your Children With a Gardening Metaphor

Author: Brent Sweitzer
Original Post Date: November 11, 2021

It’s easy to understand the appeal of gardening. Whether you grow your own vegetables or simply plant a flower or two, it is rewarding to place a seed or shoot into well-nourished soil and watch patiently as it grows and flourishes.

When I enjoy time in my garden, I am reminded of one of my favorite metaphors — that families do best when parents assume the role of gardener. Children come into this world equipped with everything they need. Our role as parents is to provide the right conditions for them to thrive, much like the gardener who enriches the soil and provides plants with water and sunshine.

In my new video, I explain why it is beneficial to approach parenting as a gardener. I also discuss the importance of avoiding the pitfalls that occur when we assume the role of architect — attempting to shape our children to our designs.

I invite you to make parenting easier by shifting your mindset and your parenting metaphor. As you get your hands dirty in your garden, remember that as a parent, you are a gardener.

Make Parenting Easier by Shifting Your Mindset and Your Parenting Metaphor

A small plant held in outstretched hands reminds us of a gardening metaphor for parenting. If we approach parenting as a gardener, we can empower our children and make parenting easier.
Parent like a gardener and watch your children grow.
WATCH THE VIDEO
communication parenting

STEPS TO HEALING

Play Therapy Helps Children Manage Their Emotions

If you are struggling in your relationship with your child in the Cumming, Alpharetta or Johns Creek area, I would like to help. I specialize in high-quality play therapy at my Cumming counseling office. Play therapy can help your child regulate their emotions and overcome anxiety and behavior issues. To start your child’s counseling journey, follow these simple steps:

1

Reach Out

Call me at 678-701-7545 or fill out this form so we can schedule a free 20 minute consultation. This helps you make sure there’s a fit between what you’re wanting to get out of counseling and my skills & approach.

2

Begin Counseling

Once you decide to begin counseling, you’ll fill out the initial paperwork securely using the client portal. We will meet and begin the therapeutic counseling journey together.

3

Experience Relief

Through your child’s counseling sessions, we will start working on their healing — experiencing shifts, progress, and relief (for your child and your family) as they go.

Get Started

OTHER THERAPY SERVICES

Play therapy isn't the only service I provide at my Cumming Counseling office.

I also help couples connect through marriage counseling, and offer teen therapy, premarital counseling and individual counseling for issues such as stress and anxiety, grief and loss, and men's issues.

Teens

  • Navigate peer struggles
  • Assert their independence without doing harm
  • Feel better about themselves
  • Cope with challenges at home

 

Individual Adults

  • Improve communication in relationships
  • Manage work stress
  • Recover from traumatic experiences
  • Improve communication in relationships

 

Couples

  • Heal from affairs
  • Improve communication
  • Increase intimacy and closeness
  • Navigate the challenges of blending families

 

Other Insights

Name It to Tame It: Learn to Parent with Empathy

Take a moment to think about the characteristics of your relationship with your child. Do you face power struggles or feelings of powerlessness? Do you try to fix things for your child, or do you ask them to “use their words” only to find them incapable of doing so?...