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Critical
Parent Version (To Avoid)
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Nurturing
Parent Shift (To Use)
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Resultant Likely / Rationale
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1
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You
always mess up this report.
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Mistakes
happen; let's look at this together to see where it got tangled.
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Soothes
Compliant Child anxiety.
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2
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Why
can't you ever listen to me?
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I
want to make sure I'm being clear, tell me what you need from me.
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Removes
blame; invites cooperation.
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3
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You're
being completely ridiculous.
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I can
see you're incredibly overwhelmed right now, and that's okay.
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Validates
Rebellious Child emotions.
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4
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Stop
crying or I'll give you a reason to.
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It is
perfectly safe to cry; take all the time you need.
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Permits
Natural Child emotional release.
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5
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You
should know better at your age.
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Learning
this takes time, and it's okay if you don't have it all figured out.
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Disarms
perfectionism.
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6
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Grow up
and face reality.
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This
is a heavy situation; I am right here with you while we sort it.
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Provides
the safety of external support.
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7
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You are
ruining your own future.
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I
believe in your potential, even when things feel messy right now.
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Counters
catastrophic thinking.
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8
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Because
I said so, that's why.
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I am
setting this boundary because I care about your long-term safety.
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Explains
boundaries lovingly.
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9
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You
never do anything around here.
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I
would really appreciate your help with this task when you have a moment.
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Shifts a
demand into a request.
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10
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You're
just doing this to annoy me.
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I can
see you are frustrated; let’s figure out what is really going on.
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Looks
past behavior to find the root need.
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11
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If you
fail, don't come running to me.
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No
matter how this turns out, we will find a way to handle it.
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Assures
unconditional belonging.
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12
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Keep
your crazy ideas to yourself.
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That
is a fascinating perspective; tell me more about how you thought of that.
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Encourages
Natural Child creativity.
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13
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You are
always so selfish.
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It is
important to look after your own needs, let's balance them with others.
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Normalizes
healthy self-care.
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14
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Can't
you do anything right?
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I
appreciate the effort you put into this; let's refine a few details.
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Validates
effort over final perfection.
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15
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You look
ridiculous in that outfit.
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Your
style is so wonderfully unique; it really reflects your vibrant personality.
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Celebrates
Free Child expression.
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16
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Stop
laughing, this is serious.
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I
love seeing your joy, let's pause for a second to address this vital point.
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Preserves
joy while maintaining focus.
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17
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You're
making a mountain out of a molehill.
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This
feels really big to you right now, and I am listening.
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Avoids
minimizing their reality.
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18
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Don't
touch that, you'll break it!
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Let
me show you how to handle this gently so you can try it safely.
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Mentors
instead of gatekeeping.
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19
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You're
tracking behind everyone else.
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Everyone
learns at their own pace; focus entirely on your own progress.
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Eliminates
toxic comparison.
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20
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You just
don't care about this family.
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We
miss spending time with you, and we love having you around.
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Replaces
guilt with an invitation.
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