As we wrap up 2025, I wanted to take a pause from tactical strategies (like scripts and tips) and spend some time discussing something more foundational - The beliefs that quietly shape how we parent.
We all have limiting beliefs. Every single one of us. They're part of being human. They develop over years from how we were parented, what we absorbed from our culture, the messages we heard about children and behavior.
Most of the time, we're not even aware of them. They sit in our subconscious, influencing how we interpret our child's behavior, how we respond in difficult moments, what we can tolerate and what triggers us.
Parents come to me knowing all the strategies. They understand connection before correction. They're trying so hard. Yet they still feel stuck. The missing piece often isn't more information. It's awareness of the beliefs driving their responses.
The beautiful thing about our brains is they're neuroplastic meaning they’re capable of change throughout our lives. When we become aware of limiting beliefs and actively practice new thought patterns, we create new neural pathways. The old beliefs lose their grip. The new beliefs get stronger each time we practice them.
Your child is learning from you every day not just from what you teach, but from how you respond to challenges. When you operate from limiting beliefs, you model rigid thinking, self-criticism, the idea that mistakes mean failure.
That's why we're pausing on tactical content as we close out 2025. The strategies work better when the mindset underneath them is aligned.
I'm going to walk you through the most common limiting beliefs I see as a child and family psychologist (I’m calling myself out in #1). As you read, notice which one resonates most strongly. Try to notice with curiosity, though, not judgement.
