I was gentle parented and I turned out 'pretty normal'

“My mum always said she put 110% into raising us, so she could sit back and relax and enjoy her life watching us live out our lives.”

Image: TikTok

As parents, we try our best to ensure our children aren’t… messed up, because we’ve experienced firsthand how our own parents’ parenting styles impact us today. 

‘What’s the best way to be a parent?’ we might Google.

Or even, ‘How do I not screw my kid up?’

Well, now one mum on TikTok has put forward a theory on the best way to help your kid be an emotionally regulated, successful adult and even a successful parent themselves one day. 

She swears by gentle parenting.

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Image: TikTok

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"I'm pretty normal and mentally healthy"

“I am a product of gentle parenting. I'm 32 years old now, I have three kids. And now that I am the parent, I'm just now realising how good of a job my parents did,” the mum, Audi Ferrin, says. 

“I spend a lot of time thinking about my childhood and what things my parents did in different situations that helped shape me to be the person I am today, which is pretty normal, mentally healthy, I have a healthy view of myself, my inner voice is kind,” she continued.

“I just feel very lucky and fortunate that my parents made a real huge effort to be kind and respectful to us and really take their job as our parents seriously. They loved us, but they were there to guide us. 

“My mum always said she put 110% into raising us, so she could sit back and relax and enjoy her life watching us live out our lives.”

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"Inspiring"

In the comments, many users supported the mum’s message.

“I'm a product of the opposite, and being a gentle parent is so important to me now that I have three littles. Thank you for sharing this,” wrote one viewer.

“This is so beautiful and inspiring, Audi! As a stay-at-home mum putting 110% into mindful parenting, I thank you for shining a light onto the important work that is parenting,” replied another fan.

“Wait. Gentle parenting has been around this long? My parents had this concept and still said nah?” someone else asked.

And another person had the same thought - “Hoooow did people know to do this when you were a kid... it's SO rare.”

Others said they were on board with the concept of gentle parenting but thought it needed a rebrand. 

Suggestions included, “emotionally aware parenting”, “conscious parenting” or “respectful parenting.”

Originally published as I was gentle parented and I turned out 'pretty normal'