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What if even your hardest patterns held hidden strengths? When parents begin exploring attachment, many are surprised to discover that they fall somewhere on the spectrum of insecure attachment, even when they believed they had a “perfect childhood” with “great parents.” The most common insecure attachment styles include: Avoidant Anxious or Ambivalent Disorganized (a combination of avoidant and anxious tendencies) It’s a story we hear often in parent coaching: A client comes in thinking they’re securely attached, only to uncover deeper layers of relational patterning shaped by unmet needs, emotional inconsistency, or the absence of safety. And that realization can bring up grief, defensiveness, or guilt. Because it’s vulnerable to admit that our childhoods were less than ideal, and even harder to hold that truth without blaming the parents who raised us. But here’s what’s also true: All parents are doing the best they can with what they have. And sometimes, that wasn’t enough. The invitation isn’t to diagnose or shame ourselves, but to see the brilliance in our adaptation. Insecure attachment doesn’t mean we’re broken. It means we adapted to survive. Our nervous systems found ways to seek safety, love, and connection, even in less-than-ideal environments. And these adaptations? They come with hidden superpowers.

We all want our kids to grow into independent, thoughtful, and resilient people. We want them to find their voice, trust themselves, and contribute to the world around them. But the path to independence isn't always clear. Our kids need us, biologically and emotionally. They need connection, co-regulation, protection, and attunement. They need to know we’ll be there when things get hard. But if we push them toward independence too quickly, they may internalize the message: “I shouldn’t need anyone.” They learn to armor up. To go it alone. To disconnect. And if we hold on too tightly, never letting them stretch or stumble, they may struggle to trust themselves. They may feel safest only when we're near, unsure how to make decisions or self-soothe without our lead. It’s a delicate balance: How do we stay connected and empower them to stand on their own? It begins with trust. Trusting in their capacity to learn. Trusting in our presence when they fall. And trusting that the goal isn’t to shape them into who we want them to be, but to support them in becoming more of who they already are.

Real life parenting scenarios from within the coaching world of Jai