When I needed support and my kids were young, I followed a hand in hand parenting model and learned about “listening partners.” Set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and just have someone listen to what’s going on for you, with your kids, in your house with your partner, in your head (the scariest place). No feedback, suggestions or comments. Just empathy and space. Then you trade places—one a listener the other talks, vents, muses. I did this weekly for years. A couple with a stranger with a very different life than mine, and a couple with a close friend. That routine was invaluable—for helping me hear myself and helping me get perspective for helping me heal and grow stronger as a person and a parent. I wish more parents had listening partners!
Yeah. I do a writing class where we start with 5 minutes of listening. I think the set-up matters and telling people how uncomfortable it is and how it's a good thing to be uncomfortable sometimes lol.
When I needed support and my kids were young, I followed a hand in hand parenting model and learned about “listening partners.” Set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and just have someone listen to what’s going on for you, with your kids, in your house with your partner, in your head (the scariest place). No feedback, suggestions or comments. Just empathy and space. Then you trade places—one a listener the other talks, vents, muses. I did this weekly for years. A couple with a stranger with a very different life than mine, and a couple with a close friend. That routine was invaluable—for helping me hear myself and helping me get perspective for helping me heal and grow stronger as a person and a parent. I wish more parents had listening partners!
Yes! I remember hearing or reading about this but I never found that partner.
It would better if we normalized routines like this! And helped folks understand how beneficial it is to have a space to just hear yourself talk...
It’s one of the least-loved practices I offer during yoga retreats. 😉
Yeah. I do a writing class where we start with 5 minutes of listening. I think the set-up matters and telling people how uncomfortable it is and how it's a good thing to be uncomfortable sometimes lol.