Parents are ready to move away from authoritarian and permissive models of parenting towards relationship-based models that focus on healthy attachment and connection. Great parents know that a culture of connection in the home is built on a foundation of Presence. The Enneagram reveals what blocks our capacity to be present to our children and how our parenting "blind spots" prohibit the very connection we seek. The Enneagram also helps us to answer the question, "Who is showing up to parent - YOU - or your personality pattern?" As we learn to be more Present, we come into contact with our own inner adult or "Essence Parent", the part of us that has the capacity to hold not only our own big reactions with compassion, but our children's big feelings as well. This compassionate holding and awareness starts to soften our personality's contractions and allows us to grow into the leaders we most want to be as parents. Real life examples will be given of parents who have used the Enneagram to create deeper connections with their children, to heal their own lost childhood messages, and to transform difficult parenting moments into opportunities for spiritual and psychological growth.
Valerie Tih is a trained teacher and art therapist. She graduated from the Enneagram Institute with Honours and is a certified Happiness Coach - Dr. Robert Holden. With over 20 years of experience as a speaker, presenter and facilitator of retreats and educational workshops, Valerie delights in guiding educators and parents towards pioneering leadership.