In Pursuit of Nonviolent Parenthood

“Nonviolent parenting? I feel like I need a Quaker workshop on that,” Brianne Boylan laughs.

As an adoptive mother, Brianne has been on a remarkable journey, one deeply informed by her participation in the Quaker community. “One of the reasons why I feel like I want to be surrounded by Quakers,” she admits, “is so that I can learn from them… because my own childhood was—I felt like violence and domination were part of the ways that children were raised, and that’s not what I want for my child or the world.”

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6 thoughts on “In Pursuit of Nonviolent Parenthood

  1. What a wonderful talk! As a 69-year-old grandmother raising her 8-year-old grandson I certainly understand the desire to have guidance on nonviolent parenting!!! It is always a challenge to raise an active child especially one with a history of trauma and I find myself saying “no” so often throughout the day

  2. Wow Brianne…your experience and attitude is so helpful for everyone.
    No thing or No one ever comes into our lives without teaching us a lesson.
    Our willingness to learn that lesson makes all the difference.
    Bravo Brianne!

  3. This is very timely in this time when there are still a lot of parents who think that saying bad words to their kids does not inflict violence on them at all. They never realize that violence begets violence. So this talk would indeed be very helpful to both parents and would- be parents.

  4. Now I am a Grammy X 9. There was a time when I was a young mother joint a Quaker Meeting. I was doubtful about my ability to parent sell, based on my experience As a child. I read everything I could and attended classes on Quaker Parenting. The best experience was bringing my children to ‘Meeting and other Quaker Events. I felt comfortable leaving them in Quaker hands and observing. What a blessing for me and my children.

  5. Friend, my daughter is teaching and using non violent communication methods with her children. Nonviolent communication for children books are also available and helpful for children who need to learn the vocabulary and interactions of non-violent communication. My grandchildren know how to use observations, feelings, need and requests. It is a wonderful and loving way to show children how to interact with others. As a teacher, I think it would be particularly useful for teaching a child who may need more specific teaching of language. I hope this is helpful, in the absence of a workshop on nonviolent parenting.

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