Master Your Parenting Journey: Master Your Journey, #1

By Shilpa Ardey

"Master Your Parenting Journey is an indispensable guide tailored for today's parents, designed to help you navigate the multifaceted challenges of raising children in our digital age while embracing diversity and inclusivity.

This book takes you on a profound journey, encouraging you to explore the art of parenting from the inside out. It provides a roadmap for decoding your unique parenting style and unlocking the secrets to motivating teenagers. Moreover, it shines a light on the path to fostering harmony in blended families, including LGBTQ+ families.

The heart of this book lies in its ability to equip parents with practical strategies to not only understand but also actively engage with their children in the digital era. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining emotional connections, promoting mental well-being, and, above all, discovering joy in the journey of parenthood.

Master Your Parenting Journey is more than just a book; it's a valuable resource for those seeking to create a positive and inclusive family environment in today's dynamic and ever-evolving world. It's your companion, your guide, and your source of inspiration as you embark on the extraordinary adventure of parenthood."
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shilpa Ardey
• Release date: Nov 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223085973

Book preview

By

Shilpa Ardey

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Copyright © 2023 by Shilpa Ardey

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or recording, by any information storage and retrieval system, or by email or any other means whatsoever without permission in writing from the author.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my beloved family and cherished friends, who have been my life's unwavering support and guiding lights. Your love, encouragement, and presence have made every chapter of my journey richer and more meaningful. Thank you for being the characters who have filled the pages of my story with love and laughter. This is for you.

With love and gratitude,

Shilpa Ardey

TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

KNOW YOUR PARENTING STYLE

SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

PARENTING TEENS IN CRISIS

FOSTERING LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVITY

NAVIGATING TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL PARENTING

BLENDED FAMILIES UNVEILED: ADDRESSING, CREATING AWARENESS

THE BLEND'S BRIDGE: OVERCOMING BLENDED FAMILY HURDLES

NOTE FROM AUTHOR

REFERENCE

DISCLAIMER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MAY I ASK YOU A FAVOR?

INTRODUCTION

It's not only children who grow. Parents do, too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.

- Joyce Maynard

Scene 1

In the dimly lit study room, the air was tense as seventeen-year-old Ryan avoided eye contact with his father, Jasmeet. Report cards lay on the table, the stark reality of Ryan's slipping grades.

"Ryan, we need to talk about these grades," Jasmeet said, his voice measured but tinged with concern.

Ryan shifted uncomfortably in his chair, the weight of expectations pressing down on him. "Dad, it's not a big deal. It's just grades."

Jasmeet sighed, his frustration evident. "Ryan, your grades matter. They open doors for your future. You're freaking out about college applications, and these grades won't help."

Ryan shot back, "Everyone expects so much. I can't handle the pressure!"

Jasmeet leaned in, desperation in his eyes. "I just want you to have every opportunity, Ryan. But you've got to meet me halfway. What's going on? We used to talk about everything."

"Nothing, Dad, you won't understand." Ryan stepped out of the home in frustration, slamming the main door.

Listening to the noise, Sarah entered the room with a tablet in her hand.

Jasmeet noticed the glow of the screen reflecting on her face.

Jasmeet enquired what are you watching, Sarah?

"Cartoons, Daddy!" in a low voice. She sensed the tension in the air.

Sarah, we need to talk about screen time. You've been on there for quite a while."

Sarah pouted, defensive. "But it's fun, Daddy! Why can't I watch more?"

Jasmeet sighed, controlling his anger from the previous episode with Ryan.

"Sweetheart, too much screen time isn't good for you."

Playing outside, reading books, and spending time together as a family is essential. It helps you learn and grow."

But the characters are my friends, Daddy! Sarah protested and ran out of the room.

Jasmeet, feeling a mix of frustration and concern as a father, felt helpless for his kids, Ryan and Sarah.

Unable to take the situation under control.

Scene1 Ended

Scene 2

In the suburban landscape of Greenwood, where neatly manicured lawns hinted at an illusion of perfection, lived Kyle, a teenage girl whose past bore the heavy burden of trauma.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the living room, Kyle decided it was time to share a deeply personal revelation with her mother, Mary.

Seated on the living room couch, Kyle hesitated, her heart pounding with anxiety. Mary engrossed in a magazine, looked up as Kyle's voice trembled through the silence.

"Mom, there's something I need to tell you," Kyle began, her eyes searching for understanding.

Sensing the moment's gravity, Mary set aside her magazine and nodded for Kyle to continue.

"I'm gay, Mom," Kyle confessed, her vulnerability laid bare in those three words.

The room fell silent.

Mary's expression shifted from curiosity to confusion, then disbelief.

The weight of Kyle's revelation hung in the air, a palpable tension growing between them.

"You can't be serious," Mary uttered, her voice tinged with confusion and discomfort.

Are you sure about this? You're so young, Kyle.

Kyle, desperate for her mother's acceptance, tried to explain the complexity of her feelings on the journey to self-discovery.

Still, Mary was grappling with her confusion and deeply ingrained beliefs.

"This isn't how I imagined your life," Mary confessed, her brow furrowed.

"Why can't you be like other girls, Kyle? It changes everything."

As the conversation unfolded, it became a battleground of conflicting emotions and generational perspectives.

In the supposedly idyllic societal norm, where conformity often overshadowed authenticity, Kyle's revelation became a challenge that Mary struggled to comprehend.

Kyle retreated to her room, leaving Mary in the dimly lit living room, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and anxiety.

The walls of their home echoed the strains of a mother-daughter relationship strained by the weight of revelation and a mother's struggle to reconcile her expectations with the authentic identity of her daughter.

Scene2 Ended

Dear reader,

Do any of the above scenarios feel like you are conversing with your child?

Are you aware of what he browses on the internet?

Does it concern you? Is he watching adult content or age-appropriate content?

Does his grades or academic performance bother you?

Or

Is your child facing a teenage crisis?

Have you seen a weird behavior in your child's sexual orientation?

Or are you looking forward to moving into a blended family?

Are you feeling anxious about how that decision would impact your kids?

Are you suffering from the above challenges in your parental journey as a parent?

If Yes!!

Then this book is for you !!!

What does this book provide differently from any other book in the same genre?

As a parent, it is a valid question.

You might have read multiple books on parenting.

This book stands out as it tackles fundamental parental issues on a unified platform.

Instead of sifting through numerous information sources, this book furnishes insights and solutions to modern parenting issues through stories,examples and strategies grounded in meticulous scientific research by experts.

These research findings have demonstrated credible results in the lives of parents facing concerns and challenges as they navigate the journey of parenthood with their children.

CHAPTER #1

KNOW YOUR PARENTING STYLE

No matter how far we come, our parents are always in us.

- Brad Meltzer.

You might wonder if the stories in the earlier chapter are only about parental experience or if there is any relation between the characters and scenes.

You have a valid question.

Let's familiarize ourselves with the characters and explore how they are interconnected.

Jasmeet is a single parent to two kids: Riyan, a 17-year-old son, and Sarah, an eight-year-old daughter.

He is working in an MNC in a reputable position.

He lost his loving wife due to Covid in 2020.

Since then,

Jasmeet has handled kids independently with lots of challenges.

Mary hails from Canada and is staying with her daughter, Kyle, 15 years old, from her divorced husband.

You may think it is a typical story of two parents with various parental child problems.

But take a deep breath and tighten your seat belts as the story unravels.

Would you like to explore?

Are you excited about the turns and twists of two parents, Jasmeet and Mary?

How are they intermingled in their parenting journey?

What makes this book different?

So here you go !!!

Jasmeet and Mary are based out of New York.

They work in the same MNC.

In his office, Jasmeet met Mary, a recently transferred associate working on the same project as Jasmeet.

While working on the project for over six months, Jasmeet and Mary bonded well.

Their friendship, based on trust and communication, grew profound.

Being single parents with strong and understanding personal connections, they considered taking their relationship to the next level and moving into a marital bond.

They have taken sufficient time to think through the matter, and based on the consensual decision, they agreed to take it to their kids and family.

Both were a bit tense; there was a surge of anxiety.

The outcome and what reactions follow when they engage in a conversation with kids & family.

Jasmeet is getting goosebumps, knowing how his family will react to his decision to second marriage with a mother of a 15-year-old daughter from an entirely different culture and background.

On the other side, Mary is very tense, knowing Kyle has a traumatized past due to her physical and emotionally abusive relationship with her first husband.

How will Kyle respond to her decision?

Will she get emotionally impacted, or will this create further distance between mother and daughter?

Post knowing the challenge of her sexual orientation.

Mary's parents never wanted her to get into her first marriage.

Initially, the marriage was rosy, but later on, it turned physically abusive, which panicked Mary and her family, and with the help of friends and her brother, she flew away from her husband's place, taking 5-year-old Kyle with her in fear and depression.

It took years for Kyle and Mary to forget the past, but still, Kyle got panic attacks of violence she had seen in her childhood.

This trauma has impacted Kyle's overall emotional health and led to her current identity.

Jasmeet and Mary were at a crossroads on how to proceed further.

They could see a challenging path ahead of them if they decide to get along with each other.

How will kids accept each other?

We have lots of cultural and socio-economic diversity.

What would be the impact of this blended family on kids' overall emotional growth?

Our kids are teens, and most intact family parenting couples face a teen crisis.

How will we handle it?

What if our kids get into more digital addiction due to this decision?

Mary had a fear of Kyle's sexuality and orientation disconnect.

How this marriage decision will impact it?

Will Kyle get away from me?

There were a plethora of questions in their mind.

What if this occurs? What if that unfolds?

There was tension in the air, but they were sure to be together.

Jasmeet took a deep breath and said we must work it out, Mary.

Mary got reassured looking at Jasmeet, and she felt his support and conviction for the journey ahead.

All her worries started getting dissolving.

They resolved to proceed gradually, supporting each other steadfastly.

They planned to step forward and discuss their relationship with their family and children.

To ensure they are prepared and comfortable to disclose the news to kids and family, they decided to seek the professional help of a family therapist.

Both were in the lobby of the family therapist, Dr. Sara John.

The attendant calls them inside the cabin of the therapist.

They greeted and introduced themselves and initiated the discussion.

After a while, the therapist understood the situation and gave them an