This episode explores what brought us here to create the Embodying Aware Parenting podcast and shares what you can expect.

Ep.1 Introduction to the podcast

So what does Embodying Aware Parenting mean in practice? 
Don't be put off by the BIG words as we love to meet parents in the middle of the everyday muddle of parenting. We offer practical and tangible ways to stay sane amidst the emotional rollercoaster of modern life. 
1.40: Who is Dr Althea Solter and what is her background and vision? 
2.05: The three core principles of Aware Parenting
6.35: Allowing for the intelligence of the child and how pre and perinatal studies show how conscious babies are from very early on
8.30: Extract from the book The Aware Baby re core assumptions
9.34: Reflecting on our own feelings when our children are crying, what happened when we were small? 
11.20: A chance to notice what we feel on the inside of our body? How we can move our children towards balanced states through play, laughter, raging and tears! 
13.00: The healing joy of attachment play and letting children ‘find their power’! 
15.45: Self-compassion is key… coming back into awareness time and time again
18.37: No Rewards and Punishments a second key principle of Aware Parenting
22.05: Trusting children, trusting ourselves and avoiding subtle rewards and praise
28.55 - 36.19: The call for Embodied presence. Vicki offers an embodied practice

Ep.2 Embodying Aware Parenting in Practice

Challenging behaviour is a biological response. In this podcast we explore what is at the core of challenging behaviour and offer ways of being with emotions. Acknowledging our feelings and ways to release them.  Simple tips to help ourselves and our children get unstuck and move towards richer states of connection and joy.

Ep.3 Being with emotions

This episode helps us recognize biological freeze responses in ourselves and our children. We explore ways of moving through stuck and numb feelings to more present and joyful ones. Sara offers a simple practice to help us defrost and reconnect with ourselves in readiness to deepen our connection with our children.

Ep.5 Being with disconnected feelings

Dr Solter writes “many people are baffled by infant crying because they assume that crying is always caused by an immediate need or discomfort.” When parents first discover Aware Parenting they often comment that they would prefer to be with laughter, or in fact anything else rather than tears!  Crying can have deep negative associations for many of us; sometimes even prompting feelings of parental failure. In her book The Aware Baby, Dr Solter points to some fascinating research on the healing benefits of crying. 

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com

Ep. 24 Crying

In this third of the three part introduction we look at the remaining core values that are outlined below. As always it is so helpful to connect with an Aware Parenting instructor who can help to tease  out how these principles could be applied in your family. 

6. Aware parents protect children from danger, but they do not attempt to prevent all of their children's mistakes, problems, or conflicts.

7. Aware parents encourage children to be autonomous problem-solvers and help only when needed. They do not solve their children's problems for them. 

8. Aware parents set reasonable boundaries and limits, gently guide children towards acceptable behaviour, and consider everyone's needs when solving conflicts. They do not control children with bribes, rewards, threats, or punishments of any kind.

9. Aware parents take care of themselves and are honest about their own needs and feelings. They do not sacrifice themselves to the point of becoming resentful.

10. Aware parents strive to be aware of the ways in which their own childhood pain interferes with their ability to be good parents, and they make conscious efforts to avoid passing on their own hurts to their children.

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com

Ep. 27 An embodied introduction to Aware Parenting in three Parts - part 3

Next up is nonsense play, separation games and power-reversal games that can be extraordinarily powerful ways to heal past hurts and directly address childhood fears of separation and powerlessness. Some families are reluctant to bring in power reversal games, fearing that it will lead to more wild and even aggressive behaviour. It has been widely shown that the opposite is true. Physical styles of play within the safety of the home have been shown to help to reduce the need for aggressive behaviour elsewhere.

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com

Ep. 31 Embodying play part 2

Finally we look at regression games, contact games as well as  cooperative activities and games that can all be surprisingly helpful. Play is a window into our child world and we never need to be afraid of what they want to ‘show us’. Our children will want to play some games again and again until they have got what they need from them. Through play even the most traumatic events can be resolved and re-patterned.

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com

Ep. 32 Embodying play part 3

Please note we had a sound glitch in some of this podcast  as always do reach out with any questions. 

In these podcasts we look at the nine different types of play that Dr Solter has identified. We address three distinctive types of play in each episode.  The play is non-directed and child-centred which gives ample opportunity for the child to feel seen and heard. Play is not just something to ‘fill in the gaps’ or while away a rainy afternoon but a key opportunity to build laughter and connection. Here we look at non-directive child-centred play, symbolic play and contingency play which is a type of play where we follow the ‘commands’ and prompts. Contingency play in particular is a great stress reliever and if the child is laughing you have struck gold. Keep at it as they will build so much trust and confidence and release residual feelings of anxiety and  powerlessness. 


To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com 


Ep. 30 Embodying play part 1

In this episode we explore three main parenting styles as outlined by Aletha Solter. Authoritarian, Permissive and Democratic parenting. It is easy for any of us to say that we would ‘never parent like THAT”.. But inevitably when we are tired and under pressure we can find ourselves resorting to parenting styles that seek to be ‘in control’ and have ‘the upper hand’. Acknowledging the reality of our parenting styles and why we choose them can be a relief in itself. Here we look into the atmosphere of the home as well and how different styles of parenting impact us on many levels.

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com 

Ep. 33 Who has the power part 1

Here we continue this important discussion and make it clear that it is likely that in any one day many of us can move between a variety of styles of parenting. Dr Solter and other highly regarded psychologists point out that how we parent does have long term consequences. The democratic approach favoured by Aware Parenting is highly relational and heart-felt, it is however essential that we offer kindness and tender regard to ourselves and ALL of our behaviour. Especially when we may have acted in ways that we are not proud of! Here we remind ourselves that it is never too late to rewind and repattern.

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com

Ep. 34 Who has the power part 2

At many steps on the parenting path most of us parents will feel waves of guilt. It can creep up on us in different ways and can sometimes be hard to distinguish from feelings of grief and anger. Perhaps  dressed our child roughly when they went out the door as they were refusing to put on a coat or we forced them into the car screaming against their will. It just didnt feel right to act that way and  our actions may have left us with a feeling of failure, confusion or even isolation. These hurtful scenes were not how we envisaged parenting to be,  we can feel the impact of such events for weeks or (even years) later. In part two we look at what to do when we feel we have messed up

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com 

Ep. 35 Parenting guilt part 1

When Parental guilt visits us we can feel so constricted and hard towards ourselves. We explore here a four part process,integral to Aware Parenting that opens us up to the possibility of repair and connection with ourselves and our children once again. We remind ourselves that when WE mess up, react and behave inappropriately, it is not our fault. It simply shows that we have unmet needs that are deserving of attention and love. As the adult though we do have a responsibility we could say ‘response - ability‘ to create space for playful repair and healing.

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com 

Ep. 36 Parenting guilt part 2 & what to do when we feel we have messed up

In this podcast we discuss the crucial role of listening partnerships  in relation to parental guilt. A listening partner offers us the opportunity to speak freely about our feelings without judgment or minimising. Often when we speak about our feelings with our partner or a close friend they may tell us we are ‘over thinking’ or worrying too much. Being listened to by someone who appreciates t core aware parenting principles, gives us the opportunity to unpack lingering  ‘guilty’  feelings. It is important to note that when these feelings are left unspoken they can lead to low-grade feelings of depression, lack of confidence and unworthiness. When we fully acknowledge what has happened we can begin to put down these burdens. With gentle encouragement a listening partner may  also help us recall times when we offered our children some wonderful moments of connection. Being reminded of what is RIGHT with us will help us gather resources and prepare us once again to enter the crazy parenting dance. Treading that tricky path of being a heartfelt and engaged parent with an awareness for our own  limits and needs as well.


To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com 

Ep. 37 Being with Guilt with listening partners

In this episode we meet India Farr who runs Treebug childcare in Stroud in Gloucestershire UK. She tells us how she came to Aware Parenting and how central it is for her both personally and professionally. India's’ psychology studies and her childcare work enables her to embody her passion for child development and emotional wellbeing on a daily basis. Her heart warming stories offer real insights around democratic and consent based approaches  that are just as relevant in any public setting or at home.

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com 


Ep. 38 Interview with India Farr Part One Separation anxiety & other childcare stories

In part two we continue to hear how India and her team manage more than one child and their feelings all at once. India offers specific games and approaches that ensure all the children are acknowledged and held as  needed.  Her profound stories point to the wisdom of children and notably her own daughter’s  capacity to be sensitive and attuned to the needs of others.  And so we all shout what about sibling rivalry? Yes it happens at times in most households.  India’s calm trust of the principles of Aware Parenting gives her the capacity to offer consent based solutions to get to the root of rivalry dynamics.  So inspired and grateful for these conversations. 

To find out about Vicki Plomer’s latest offerings visit: www.vickiplomer.com 
To contact Sara Devoy and find out more about her work contact@saradevoycraniosacral.com 


Ep. 39 Interview with India Farr Part Two Sibling Rivalry, trusting the wisdom of children & more

We bring awareness to the nervous system, to recognise what this feels like from the inside out, so that it becomes easier to navigate towards connected states. 

Join us. We are real parents who live Aware Parenting. Real stories for bringing self reflection into everyday life. 
 
To find out more about Aware Parenting and the work of Sara Devoy & Vicki Plomer visit: www.saradevoycraniosacral.com, www.vickiplomer.com, www.awareparentinginstitute.com

Embodying Aware Parenting

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