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Healthy Lifestyle, Parenting, Relationships, TV / Technology 339 Comments on Are all Children the Same: Do they all Need to be Parented the Same?

Are all Children the Same: Do they all Need to be Parented the Same?

By Nicole Serafin · On October 21, 2017 ·Photography by Leonne Sharkey

Having had three children, all very different in every single way, with absolutely no similarities even in their looks, it didn’t take me long to discover that what worked for one did not work for another.  

I remember going into my second pregnancy feeling like it was my first, and having a friend share with me to treat it as that, and I found parenting them was no different – they were all as if they were my first – and three children in, I am still learning and feel like I am starting from scratch at times. 

The only thing I could feel that was the same was they all needed the same quality and consistency from me: they needed to be parented, and that came from how I was with me first, then from me being fully with myself I could feel what they needed individually and how I could support them. 

After having our first child I observed how easy it is to place them in front of a television to give me some time to get things done… a break. These days TV has been replaced by electronic devices in becoming the babysitter of the millennium. And what a great distraction… a child can be distracted by an electronic device for hours on end, allowing you as much time as possible.  

In our case, we soon discovered that our daughter became quite despondent, distant and at times angry during and after watching television or using an electronic device. We started to cut back on the amount of television she watched, and electronic devices weren’t really a big thing when she was young so that was fairly easy to cut back, and out. 

Eventually, after noticing a massive shift in her without watching television, we decided to stop watching TV altogether. It was a choice we had also made for ourselves earlier on so it was a natural next step for us. After all, if we could feel how television impacted on us and why we were choosing to watch it in the first place, then she was definitely being affected equally so. 

Again, the choices we made when it came to parenting our children first came from us and what we had felt, and watching television for us felt like a distraction: it took us away from feeling what was needed, and from being able to take into account each child individually – each one needing different routines, rhythms, boundaries and consequences. 

Even though each child is different, there is a level of consistency that each child needs to feel from us as parents. This includes a willingness to be present in each moment to be able to feel what is needed, rather than going into ticking the boxes or wanting to look good. It also includes not being afraid to stand out or shy away from the reactions of others because we choose to parent our children in a way that is different and at times confronting for others. 

I see myself as their guardian until such point in time that they are old enough to make their own choices. Being a parent has allowed me to commit to my own level of and quality of livingness, to connect to and feel what is needed in each moment for each child as an individual, but also taking the whole into consideration. 

There is no off time when you are parenting children – you are always on. I know through my own observations in the home the impact electronic devices, unhealthy foods, routines and rhythms have on our children and it is not a life I choose for them.  

Don’t get me wrong: at times it can be challenging – being ‘on’ all the time asks me to not go for the distraction or quick fix. But being ‘off’ – I have discovered very quickly – is far worse, and for me parenting is not at all ‘in-joyable’ when I am looking to escape, even if it is just for a second. 

I appreciate every day all that our children have brought to us, and at such a young age have shown me the absolute glory there is in loving and deeply caring for myself.  

I also deeply appreciate and am forever ‘great-full’ to Serge Benhayon for reflecting and living true family, for without this reflection, I would not have the family or children I have today.  

Blessed in every way for these children being sent, and an absolute honour to be their guardian for the lives they have chosen this time around. 

Published with permission from my husband.  

By Nicole Serafin, 45, Woman, Self-employed Salon owner, wife and mother, Tintenbar NSW

Further Reading:
Re-claiming the Responsibility of Being a Parent
Parenting from the Heart
Mothering, Me and Serge Benhayon

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Nicole Serafin

Living in Tintenbar with my amazing husband and three beautiful children. Life is simple, uncomplicated and full of magical moments everywhere I look. Birds chirping, kookaburras singing and kids playing outside chasing each other around and around, making me dizzy at times but still glorious to watch. Not a moment goes by where I do not stop to appreciate all that I am, who we are as individuals and how we are together as a family, truly glorious in every way.

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339 Comments

  • Mary Adler says: November 29, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    We learn a great deal by parenting ourselves with the same care and nurturing as we offer a young child.

    Reply
  • Greg Barnes says: October 21, 2019 at 4:50 am

    “No off button” turns the whole way we do thing around as we are always connected and we are choosing to be in that awareness, so we are turned onto our essences and not turned off to this innate part of us, our most divine aspect or Soul.

    Reply
  • Mary says: September 9, 2019 at 2:58 am

    Nicole I feel that there is no time off at all whether it be parenting yourself or children or any other person. I can feel how we have to be on all the time because the negative forces that surround us are trying to infiltrate our bodies and get us to give up, withdraw, checkout, become distracted, anything to stop us from returning back to our soul. Its a constant vigilance. We have no real idea of how our every move is watched, and sometime the negative energy allows you to feel your going really well and then suddenly they pull you back its like a mouse being played with by a cat.

    Reply
  • Greg Barnes says: August 1, 2019 at 4:36 am

    TV. has taken us back to the dark ages and we are under a spell of thinking we are evolving, when the use of this medium and so many other devices are divisive in the way they separate us.

    Reply
  • Alexis Stewart says: June 2, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    Are any of us the same? I feel not. Sure our essence is identical but on top of our essence we’ve had a million experiences that happened to us in a specific way, at a specific time and for specific reasons. All of these experiences shape us in incredible detail, detail that is minute with nuances that are attributable to us and us alone. The Way of The Livingness is incredible because it is a way of living that suits everyone, not because it treats everyone the same but because it is able to bend and weave itself to the exact requirements of us all.

    Reply
  • Annoymous says: April 15, 2019 at 5:03 am

    Amazing Nicole, super inspiring to hear a mum claim that she is deeply loving and caring for herself.

    Reply
  • Lorraine Wellman says: February 12, 2019 at 7:39 pm

    Seeing ourselves as guardian of our children is a lovely way to see it, whilst deepening how we live and respond to life, ‘Being a parent has allowed me to commit to my own level of and quality of livingness, to connect to and feel what is needed in each moment for each child as an individual, but also taking the whole into consideration.’

    Reply
  • sueq2012 says: November 27, 2018 at 4:13 pm

    “… they all needed the same quality and consistency from me: ” Very true – then we can feel what each child needs in any given moment.

    Reply
  • Rebecca says: November 26, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    Beautiful Nicole, thank you for sharing. I love how you describe yourself as your children’s guardian until they are able to make their own choices.

    Reply
  • Zofia says: November 24, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    The interesting thing I’ve been noting about parenting and without having a child myself is seeing how parenting can also and equally be applied to adults too when there is the loving parenting of oneself.

    Reply
  • Rebecca says: November 12, 2018 at 6:02 am

    Nicole, I have also discovered this; ‘But being ‘off’ – I have discovered very quickly – is far worse, and for me parenting is not at all ‘in-joyable’ when I am looking to escape, even if it is just for a second.’ I have observed that if I react, if I try and escape, if I try and avoid what is going on then this simply does not work. I have noticed that dealing with things as they happen, staying present in my body and expressing how I feel and calling out what doesn’t feel loving is a much truer and more enjoyable way to parent.

    Reply
  • Shami says: November 3, 2018 at 4:39 pm

    I can see from your writing, how complicated parenting can be, with so many different needs coming from our children. But then you also show how simple it can be and actually if each child is regarded as their own person, with their own journey, which has its own set of challenges, then t is not the case complicated multitasking, but rather supporting and developing people with all of you and the skills that you have.

    Reply
  • Carola Woods says: October 14, 2018 at 7:15 am

    A beautiful honouring and understanding offered here Nicole’ that we are guardians of our children. Never are they ours or do we own them, for as soon as we think we do we are imposing on them our emotional needs that selfishly hinder their learning and our fostering of their understanding of how to live knowing who they are and how to live their true power in the world as they grow up.

    Reply
  • Sam says: October 6, 2018 at 12:39 am

    Knowing how to read a child and what is truly going on for them is a parents greatest ally.

    Reply
  • Sam says: September 4, 2018 at 5:46 am

    The art to parenting is ‘reading’ – reading whats actually going on with them and why, many children are playing out past life fears and hurts – when we understand this we can work better with them to bring about healing.

    Reply
  • Elizabeth Dolan says: July 13, 2018 at 9:58 pm

    I know that when I was growing up I was vastly different from my sisters therefore we did need to be parented differently. However no-one know about it back then so it is lovely to know of families who are doing this today.

    Reply
  • Jill Steiner says: July 7, 2018 at 6:16 am

    Loving consistence is a key factor in raising children it gives them a sense of safety and trust where they can grow and expand who they truly are.

    Reply
    • Nattalija says: September 14, 2018 at 10:00 am

      Offering them the space to work through what may feel like challenges yet reflect the imperfections of the world and how we learn and grow amongst it all.

      Reply
  • jennym says: June 30, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    Being consistent in our quality of connection to ourselves and others is the greatest reflection we can offer another.

    Reply
    • Nattalija says: October 27, 2018 at 8:54 am

      When there is consistency we are offered what is needed for everyone at that moment and it is this that holds the quality and expression for each and everyone.

      Reply
  • hm says: June 12, 2018 at 10:22 pm

    I have a young toddler who continues to show us how sensitive she is. When she spends time on any devices – it really effects her – and so we have to work as a family to be responsible and allow her to understand that she simply can’t handle them. Once we honour this, and explain it to her – she is fine – but this is a way of raising children in an accountable way that means they start to understand the effects of these gadgets.

    Reply
    • sueq2012 says: November 27, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      Beautiful to hear that a simple explanation sufficed re I.T. I remember my young son going off the wall after drinking orange juice many years ago now. He can even recall it and we have a laugh now, but it wasn’t easy at the time to explain how his body really couldn’t handle it.

      Reply
    • Lorraine says: February 12, 2019 at 7:35 pm

      Bringing understanding to children, taking time to connect with them, and explain what is happening is super important.

      Reply
      • Mary says: February 5, 2020 at 5:05 pm

        I agree with you Lorraine every child whether they are aware of it or not wants to be met and understood for themselves. I have watched how young children try to get attention of their parents who are distracted and the sagging of their bodies as they feel the rejection. I feel for them as I felt for myself that as children we can easily become the unseen to our parents.

        Reply
  • Rebecca Wingrave says: June 12, 2018 at 2:44 am

    I really notice how easy it is for parents to get quiet time – electronic devices certainly keep kids quiet, but from what I observe there is a great price to pay. Electronic devices are addictive and I notice the effects on my son and other children who watch them. From my observations it affects concentration, can make kids hyperactive and unsettled, tired, grumpy and unable to focus. I have also seen them how they can affect children’s learning and ability to communicate.

    Reply
  • Karin Barea says: June 10, 2018 at 8:05 am

    ‘…being ‘off’ – I have discovered very quickly – is far worse,…’ I know I avoided the responsibility of being a parent because it is 24/7 and the off moments are so starkly reflected; but I’m starting to appreciate being off isn’t ever without consequence or effect and the more honest I become about this the more I can’t deny responsibility.

    Reply
  • Ingrid Ward says: June 6, 2018 at 5:46 pm

    “Even though each child is different, there is a level of consistency that each child needs to feel from us as parents.” Parenting as I remember from when my children were young was forever evolving as the children grew older and trying to keep them in one ‘box’ together was not possible. Letting go of beliefs, and perceived ideas of what they should be doing and when, does not take into account their individual uniqueness, their own style they have brought with them into this life; that is for us to honour and nurture and not to control.

    Reply
  • Joseph Barker says: May 31, 2018 at 5:27 pm

    If we go through life with a cookie cutter approach it’s no wonder we find it same and get hurt. We repeat the same actions we thought worked and restrict life to what we think it ought to look like. It’s not sweet.

    Reply
  • Rebecca Wingrave says: May 28, 2018 at 2:57 pm

    Nicole, I am realising this with my son and when I look after other children; ‘There is no off time when you are parenting children – you are always on.’ Trying to escape or check out simply doesn’t work. Dealing with situations as they arise seems key and trying to ignore what is going on in my experience simply doesn’t work. Children need that consistency and resolution.

    Reply
  • Simon Williams says: May 17, 2018 at 6:22 am

    Its ironic that TV is such a great way to switch off… a remote control we use on ourselves for us to check out and give up. Much better to switch off the TV

    Reply
  • Simon Williams says: May 17, 2018 at 6:17 am

    Love the observation of what TV does to the kids, quietly creeping up and radically altering their behaviour, of course it requires you to be present enough to make the link. But I do wonder if we apply the same observational skills to ourselves as adults? Do we take the same advice and limit our screen time, not stay up late watching TV, check our mood afterwards…. be good to check that!

    Reply
  • Carola Woods says: May 14, 2018 at 7:02 am

    Beautiful that you have shared so wisely that the key to parenting is about quality, as it is the quality of love that we live with for ourselves that confirms the quality for love that our children are, which is one and the same, and is what our children deserve. Reflecting the vibration of love for our children to feel, is what fosters their exploration in developing a relationship with this quality of who they are for themselves, their essence. This is everything that is needed for children to grow in confidence, knowing who they are and how to live guided by their innate knowingness and wisdom.

    Reply
  • Caroline Francis says: April 26, 2018 at 3:17 pm

    I also can feel how watching tv is a distraction yet although I do not watch tv, I clock and there may be brief moments when I find other ways to distract myself or check out during my day. The more I get to the root of those movements that takes me out from being present with myself, the more I support those around me.

    Reply
  • Nattalija says: April 16, 2018 at 7:01 am

    All children are different and the way we parent may bring a slightly different tone and expression that supports each one but the truth lies in holding consistency in our lives that reflects far greater in the loving and stable support our children need.

    Reply
  • Matilda Bathurst says: April 15, 2018 at 11:20 am

    Busting the myth that there is a right or wrong way to parent, this article invites me to consider a much bigger picture than my sometimes restricted view of parenting; honouring every child as someone unique, an equal learner in life and here to develop and deepen in relationships.

    Reply
  • Sylvia Brinkman says: March 27, 2018 at 6:57 am

    Children are beings who descend for their next life experience to evolve.
    The love is what we can bring by our livingness during their lives the rest is up to them and their karma.

    Reply
  • Joseph Barker says: March 25, 2018 at 2:52 am

    Like children we love to think we can treat every moment like one from the past. We like to try to apply old solutions to new days. By running on repeat we run ourselves into the ground and miss the opportunity to trust our feelings and just live. Thank you Nicole.

    Reply
  • HM says: March 13, 2018 at 12:25 am

    As someone who is recently pregnant – it really feels so different the second time – and as if it is brand new. It is like I can’t compare it because my body won’t let me remember it or hold onto it. I love this experience – this experimentation. It is so confirming that no 2 babies are the same.

    Reply
  • Tricia Nicholson says: March 10, 2018 at 3:46 pm

    ” they all needed the same quality and consistency from me: they needed to be parented, and that came from how I was with me first, then from me being fully with myself I could feel what they needed individually and how I could support them.” So beautiful to know and makes so much sense as connected to ourselves deeply we know what is needed and that love knows everything we need to know for our children and everyone uniquely .

    Reply
  • Joseph Barker says: March 7, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    Every moment of life is unique, and requires us to treat it as such – the only parts that repeats are our patterns, ideals and beliefs. Everything you share about children Nicole applies to our whole life too.

    Reply
  • HM says: February 26, 2018 at 2:22 am

    so simple in making raising kids about quality first. How beautiful. It really can be that simple and this sharing shows the power of letting kids just be who they are.

    Reply
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