How Peaceful Parenting Impacts Neurodivergent Children

“This has not only benefited my special needs child, but has also benefited my relationship with my husband and with the other kids."

Cherry Conley, Jai Certified Coach-In-Training came to Jai knowing that she needed more peace in her home. Raising several children isn’t easy, and for Cherry, having four children from the foster system as well as her youngest being recently diagnosed with autism has been a challenging dynamic.

Cherry’s autistic daughter Marianna was consistently having disruptive outbursts, and Cherry struggled with redirecting Marianna and getting her to listen or follow directions. The yelling and dysregulation expressed by Marianna disturbed the entire home, leaving Cherry yearning for more peace, a more connected family dynamic, and a better relationship with her daughter Marianna.

When Cherry found the Jai Institute for Parenting, she knew right away that the Parent Coach Certification Program would be the right fit for her and her family. In just the first few weeks of attending the program, Cherry has witnessed a truly significant change in the family dynamic.

Prior to Jai, yelling and outbursts dominated her home, and with nine people in the house, the screaming and yelling caused a lot of disruption and ultimately trauma in the family. Simply by practicing conscious parenting, Cherry has noticed the outbursts stop altogether.

Marianna has responded especially well to conscious parenting. There is a drastic positive change in her that can be felt throughout their home. As a result, Cherry, Marianna, and the rest of the family feel much more peaceful within their family dynamic.

Cherry remarks, “[Marianna] is totally changing her behavior because she now realizes I’m trying to work with her”

She continues, “I am just amazed at how we’ve been able to stop [the yelling]. We’ve been through all kinds of therapy, both her and I, in the last 6 years trying to deal with the behavior. We’re getting so much more cooperation from her at this point”

Another child Cherry takes care of through daycare is very similar to Marianna in demeanor and has been responding the very same way towards Cherry’s conscious parenting approach. Cherry has found that practicing what she’s been learning in the program has been deeply connective and has been providing safety for the child, resulting in a change in her behavior.

The transformation has not ended just with her own children; Cherry has discovered many large transformations within herself as well. Cherry has discovered she is much more of the parent she wanted to be and has found ways to meet her own needs and communicate when her needs need to be met. With this new awareness and honesty about how she feels within those moments, Cherry has felt a huge, positive shift in her parenting and the relationships between her and her family.

Cherry describes her transformations, “It’s helped my marriage, it’s helped my relationship with other people in the house, just because I have a very different perspective on things at this point”

“Especially with Marianna, the fact that I’m trying to change and that she’s visibly seeing that I’m trying to change I think has made a big difference to her because it’s not just that I’m asking her to change. We both need to change to be able to cooperate and work together”

Cherry says, “This has not only benefited my special needs child, but has also benefited my relationship with my husband and with the other kids.”

As Cherry continues this work, she is confident that her relationships with her husband, her family, and those around her will only continue to improve.   

If you’re interested, explore our Parent Coach Certification Program to discover if it’s the right option for you and your family.