The Power of Listening in Parenting

You have to love AI hands! I hope this gives you as good of a laugh as it did my older son and I.

Do you remember when you were younger and felt like your parents weren’t really listening to you? Have you tried to be a better listener than they were, but feel like you are still falling short? I’m not knocking how we were raised as our parents did the best they could with what they knew and the way they were raised, but you may have felt like you wanted to do things differently once you had children of your own..

The truth is, most of us (our parents included) were never taught how to listen in a way that builds deep connection. We were taught how to respond, how to correct, how to give advice. But not how to truly hold space for someone else's voice — especially that of a child.

When we practice conscious parenting, listening becomes one of the greatest gifts we can offer. It tells our children, "Your inner world matters here. I want to know you."

Listening Builds Confidence and Trust

Research shows that children who feel heard by their caregivers tend to have higher self-esteem, stronger emotional regulation, and more resilience when facing challenges. When a child feels like their thoughts and feelings matter — even when they’re messy, loud, or confusing — they are more likely to develop trust not only in you, but also in themselves.

Listening doesn’t mean agreeing with everything. It means being fully present without immediately fixing, correcting, or judging.

Children aren’t just looking for solutions. They’re looking for connection.

How to Practice Active Listening With Your Child

One simple, powerful way to practice conscious listening is to reflect back what you hear before jumping to a response.

For example: If your child says, "I hate school!" Instead of saying, "Don't say that! You love your teacher!" You could say, "It sounds like something about school feels really hard right now."

This small shift does two things:

• It helps your child feel understood (even if you don't agree with everything they're saying).

• It gives them space to open up more, instead of shutting down.

You can always problem-solve later — but start by connecting first.

A Real-World Example

Let’s say your child comes home from school and when you ask them about their day, they tell you how they were upset because a friend didn’t sit with them at lunch. (I can’t tell you how many times my first grader has come home saying his friend isn’t friends with him anymore because of one small slight or another. I think one time was because my son was chosen for line leader and not his friend. My son had no control over that, yet his friend “unfriended” him because of it.)

Your first response might be to soothe them and say something like, "It's no big deal, you'll find someone else to sit with!"

But what if you paused, took a breath, and said: "That sounds like it really hurt your feelings. I'm so sorry that happened." 

Even better if you can include some of the things they said. 

Do you notice the difference? You aren’t minimizing their pain. You’re acknowledging it. You're meeting them where they are — not rushing them somewhere else.

And when a child feels met, they often find their way through the pain faster and with greater confidence. They feel understood and heard.

The throat center is the third center down from the top of the Human Design Chart,

This is especially important if they have an open throat center Human Design chart. People with an open throat center often don’t feel heard, so we need to be especially mindful of how we listen to them.

Listening as a Spiritual Practice

Listening isn’t just a communication tool — it’s a sacred act of presence. When you choose to slow down and truly hear your child, you are saying with your whole being: "I see you. I honor your experience. You are safe to be yourself with me."

And that, more than any perfect parenting strategy, is what creates a foundation of lifelong trust.

A Gentle Invitation For You

This week, I invite you to try one small thing: Before you respond to your child, pause and reflect back what you hear. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just practice offering your presence first.

You might be amazed at how deeply your child blooms when they feel like you are really listening. 

I’d love to support you. Understanding your Human Design and your child’s unique energy can open doors to even deeper communication, trust, and peace in your family. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Visit my website to learn more about working with me, to learn more about Human Design, to book a free consultation, or to explore resources designed to help you parent with presence and power. Your journey toward more conscious, connected parenting starts here — and I would be honored to walk it with you.