The Mistake Parents Make Before Kids Are Even Born

I carried old wounds from my own childhood — and before I ever had kids, I realized something had to change. I didn’t want to repeat patterns blindly. I wanted to understand who I was, how I was shaped, and what I might unknowingly pass on. So we paused. Reflected. Talked deeply as partners. Decided what to keep — and what to let go. Here’s the hard truth: Most people don’t reflect before becoming parents. They jump in. Old patterns repeat. And later, when gentle parenting doesn’t work, they feel confused, overwhelmed, and defeated — without realizing the work needed to start before kids arrive. Developmental science — and voices like Dr. Becky Kennedy — show that secure attachment doesn’t begin with techniques. It begins with intentional reflection. Parents who clarify their values, triggers, and mission early are far more likely to build deep, secure bonds. That insight changed everything for us. Reflection became our foundation. Intentionality came first — and connection followed. In this short, you’ll learn: ✅ Why reflection before parenting matters ✅ What happens when parents skip this step ✅ How Dr. Becky links self-reflection to secure attachment ✅ Why gentle parenting often “doesn’t work” without this foundation ✅ How intentional parenting helps children truly bloom This changed everything… And in Part 2, we share what happens when parents don’t do this work. Follow to see what happens next. When gentle parenting doesn’t work, Dr. Becky Kennedy, gentle parenting, child psychology, parenting tips, emotional regulation, not shaming kids, positive parenting, mindful parenting, parenting frustration, boundaries for kids, respectful parenting, child development, staying calm, parenting hacks, emotional safety, parent child connection, raising kids, YouTube Shorts parenting, gentle parenting, child psychology, parenting tips, emotional repair, how to talk to your child, yelling at kids, mom life, dad life, parent advice, mental health, child behavior, toddler tantrums, emotional regulation, parenting hacks, respectful parenting, self-esteem in kids, positive parenting, parenting mistakes, child development, parenting101, tiktokparents, moms of tiktok, dailyparenting, parentinghelp, conscious parenting, trauma informed parenting