Parenting from Within focusses on growing our internal narrative of self-awareness and self-compassion in order to be more fully present in the lives of our children. The practices of stillness, self-reflection, mindfulness and sharing evoke open-heartedness and reaffirm resilience.
“That mom you see in the carpark who has it all worked out – she doesn’t. Chat to her one-on-one for 5 minutes, share some of your insecurities and you will hear hers come tumbling out. The more I test this, the less of a theory it becomes. This is a reality shared by many – we think we are the only ones struggling, doing such a bad job, feeling isolated, but we are not alone.”
– Jen Rousseau
Offerings
Jen has developed four distinct offerings aimed at supporting you through your journey from pre-conception to the early years of childhood. The processes are offered individually and in groups, and are tailored to your needs depending on what stage of the journey you are at.
Conscious Conception
Before conception, Jen works with you as a couple, to open and establish deep dialogue between you. The intention is that this deep dialogue becomes a life-long experience which continues to enhance your relationship. Conversations are facilitated through intentional listening and incisive questions intended to allow each to allow each of you to articulate your inner experience around topics you identify as being key to your process. The process also facilitates strengthening of the emotional health of your relationship before taking the step of conceiving a child, with the intention of supporting you in embarking upon the adventure of parenting.
Rites of Passage into Parenthood
Jen works individually with you in designing a process which is ritualized and involves the community (as defined by you) the child will be born into. This creates a supportive and welcoming space into which your child can be received. This process can be done either before or after conception. It is designed to draw on the wisdom and surround of existing support structures, or to invite the creation of a support structure.
Parenting as a practice in Mindfulness – Mothering the Mother
These sessions offer a space for mothers to come together, share their challenges and feel supported in a safely held space. Jen guides you through a range of spiritual practices which can be incorporated seamlessly into your everyday life and can enhance your ability to deal with the daily and hourly parenting challenges. The experience offers you the ability to harness a space of self-care, the ability to return to Self and a feeling of connectedness in your parenting adventure. The sessions take the form of facilitated conversations and deep dialogue to harness the group’s existing wisdom. Jen shares and explores with you current research which can inform choices you make about who you want to be as a parent. It is a 6-week process where mothers meet once a week for 2.5 hours.
Protection of Childhood
These sessions are designed to expand your understanding of the range of choices you have on how you wish to parent, and what the implications of these choices may be. There is an exploration of the relationship between traditional (old fashioned) parenting and current neuroscientific evidence on the impact of various practices.
Discussions are facilitated about how to incorporate the choices you make, realistically, into your own parenting. This experience is designed for parents of children up to 7 years old. Over a period of 6 weeks, groups of parents meet once a week for 2.5 hours.
“Let’s not parent children who can cope in the world as it is – let us parent children who will create a kinder world”
– Jen Rousseau
About Jen
Having started her journey as a facilitator 18 years ago, Jen has worked with a range of groups (Corporate, NGO and private clients) in grounding spirituality in everyday life. For the past 25 years – since before having her own children, now aged 15 and 11 years – Jen’s interest in intentional, conscious living has fuelled her research and training in parenting and early childhood development. Jen grounds this via her ongoing research and background in the sciences and her practical approach to spirituality.
This journey of consciousness and awareness, coupled with navigating her own rewarding and challenging parenting adventure, compelled Jen to develop experiences that could support other parents in their own processes.
“Parenting has been my biggest challenge and pleasure, and is my most relentless teacher. Over the years, along with my ongoing research, I have engaged in a range of parenting, counselling, facilitation and childhood development trainings and processes. I draw on these, as well as on my personal journey, to provide a space for mothers to reflect on their journey and reconnect with themselves as well as with others sharing the challenges. If we can grow compassion and empathy for ourselves and each other, we can grow it in our children… and they can be it in the world.”
Jen’s training includes the following
• Rhodes University – B.Sc Hons 1993 | • Lifeline and Hospice caregiver training – 1997 | • Imago Relationship Institute – relationship coaching 1999 | • The Parent Centre – parenting skills group facilitation 2000 | • South African College of Applied Psychology – counselling 2000 | • Centre for Creative Education – B.Ed 1st year 2007 | • Child Protection – Protective Behaviours 2013 | • Time to Think – Barak Learning and Development Consultants 2014 | • Mindfulness Conference – The Institute for Mindfulness 2014 | • Emotional Intelligence – Leadership Dynamics 2015 | • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction – MBSR South 2018 |
Her other interests include permaculture, yoga, ballroom dancing and finding humour in as many situations as possible.
Testimonials
‘These sessions have been soul food.’
Dolores‘Jen handled the delicate subject of relationship intimacy after children with great sensitivity’
Fiona‘The experience of these groups helped me feel less isolated.’
Sandra