this is a therapy skill i’ve learned and i think might be helpful to others to share here! so, here goes!
the idea is, we all have to parent our inner child, and developing that voice to be healthy and loving is a skill. you can benefit from this regardless of how your actual parents were growing up! the child modes are: happy, sad, angry, and impulsive, and they all need different things.
a happy child 😄 needs support (ie: that’s so cool you like to work on your legos, tell me more!)
a sad child 😥 needs reassurance (ie: it’s okay sweetie, i know it’s really hard, but you’re safe right now)
an angry child 😡 needs validation (ie: of course you’re upset, buddy, i would be too if someone pushed me)
an impulsive child 🤪 needs healthy limits (ie: sorry kiddo, i know you want to keep watching bluey, but you have to be up early tomorrow so it’s bedtime)
keep these things in mind with how you talk to yourself, you can even practice by writing them down in a letter. find what works for you and always be gentle with yourself and remember your healing journey won’t look like anyone else’s 💕