This article first appeared on genaleph.org In previous articles we laid out the following concepts: Children already have everything they need to become autonomous adults. Our responsibility is to create the appropriate environment for them to thrive and become the best version of themselves.
Children need to be parented by adults, not only our own nuclear family but by adults in our extended family and larger community.
Children need parents who are emotionally available and attuned to their needs.
Owing to the stress of today’s modern society and the economic pressures which many of us face it is difficult to be truly emotionally available and attuned to the needs of our children. In the absence of adult attachment children may: As a result of their lack of emotional language, act out their emotions in inappropriate ways.
Rely heavily on peer attachment. Given the option of staying true to the values of their parents or belonging to their peer group children will choose peer attachment as it is critical to their survival.
In this article I would like to explore some core principles of healthy adult attachment as it relates to our children’s capacity to become autonomous and negotiate the world around them. Since the goal of any parent is to raise children who are independent (emotionally, physically, spiritually – and not necessarily in that order), we would be well served to consider what type of environment will foster that type of growth. Remember that the acorn al
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