Kids and Their Bodies
Jun 17, 2025
Kids and Their Bodies - I have a teenage daughter, and over the years, she’s faced many scenarios parents hope their kids can sidestep. Cat calls, pushy boyfriends, nasty rumors at school, criticism about her clothes, insecurity about her appearance…things I experienced growing up, too, and wish my kid would never have to face, but she does.
Kids and Their Bodies
I am proud to say that she has navigated those situations beautifully, which is in part due to the magnificent person she is, and in part due to the way she was raised: to know her worth, own her body, and understand that she is in charge of her life.
How did I impart these miraculous things? How do parents equip kids to have healthy relationships with their bodies, and to keep themselves safe when sleaze confronts them?
Two Choices
It comes down to two choices I made, which might seem unrelated to self-possession or body autonomy, but they are really important. And you can choose them too:
To be all-in on my own sh*t.
Processing my past, understanding my sore spots and reactivity, owning my behaviors and emotions, becoming less codependent...touchy-feely soul-healing, consciousness-raising stuff. This enables me to stay calm and step back when my daughter faces upsetting things.
Become equipped and intentional in my parenting.
Learning communication and parenting skills, becoming responsive instead of reactive about kids’ behavior, and sprinkling seeds of empowerment and standards of respect and consent throughout my kids’ day-to-day. Because she received this kind of parenting, she can deduce what she wants to do in those moments, including getting support from me where she wants it. I have watched her advocate for herself to teachers, strangers, family members, and authority figures with beautiful self-assuredness.
I help my clients with both of these things.
I help them do their inner work and teach them the skills and behaviors that bring intention to their parenting. Doing these two things has been a labor of love for me, and seeing it come to fruition in my children, seeing them navigate their lives with consciousness and a strong sense of self, is the most fulfilling thing on the planet and SO WORTH IT.
Ready for that kind of investment and payoff in your family? Set up a free Discovery Call with me, and I’ll show you exactly how to create this!
You can start sprinkling seeds with your kids right now! Here are some simple phrases I use with my kids that have nothing (yet everything) to do with sexuality, consent, and body autonomy:
- You know yourself better than anyone.
- Way to listen to your body!
- You can tell if you’re hungry/cold/tired/thirsty better than I can.
- You’re the boss of your body.
- Good job taking care of yourself!
- It’s chilly today. What does your body need to feel comfy?
- How much of your body do you want to share?
- What feels good to you?
- How did that feel in your body?
- I heard you say no, so I’m stopping.
- You’ll pick what’s right for you.
- I love you no matter what you decide.
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