Embracing Self-Acceptance as a Parent and Loving Yourself More
- Brainz Magazine
- Jul 2
- 5 min read
Written by Sharon Medina, Conscious Parent coach
Sharon Medina is a CPCM Conscious Parent coach, Founder of Reach Through Education, a teen mentorship dedicated to guiding teens in culturally responsive life skills. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in parent coaching, inner-child healing, somatic regulation, and helping parents thrive through meaningful connections with their children.
Do you ever feel like you're failing as a parent, despite all the effort, care, and love you pour into your children? Like, no matter what you do, it’s never quite enough? And when you hear all over the internet that all you need is “self-love” it may sound nice for 1 second in theory but feels impossible when you’re juggling screaming kids, your partner asking where to find his work socks like he didn’t live in the same house, and the ding of yet another email coming in from your coworker who you’ve explained a task for the millionth time. You're not alone. Many parents struggle with self-doubt, exhaustion, and the relentless voice of their inner critic. But there is another way forward.
In this article, you’ll discover why self-acceptance, not perfection, is the missing piece in how your relationship with yourself shapes your parenting and practical steps to start embracing yourself even on those messy days. Whether you're navigating tantrums, burnout, or your own childhood wounds, these practices will help you reconnect with yourself and model a more compassionate way of being for your kids.
What does self-love look like for parents?
Self-love isn’t just about feeling good about yourself all the time. It's about building a relationship with yourself that’s rooted in respect, compassion, and honesty. The one that influences how you parent, how you handle stress, and how you connect with your kids.
For parents, self-acceptance looks like giving yourself grace on the hard days. Especially on the hard days. It means showing up for yourself with the same kindness you’d offer your child when they feel ill or are having a hard time. It can look like not doing the dishes, or allowing an hour of screen time while you lay in the couch or sip on that coffee while is hot on days when you feel like you’re not enough.
Why “self-love” feels hard for parents
Let’s face it, most parents were raised in cultures where criticism was a motivator. We learned that putting ourselves last was the only way to succeed or be a “good parent,” And if you were raised in a Latin American family like I was, you grew up hearing “La familia es primero” or family first. So you learned not to acknowledge your needs and push through, loving everyone else first.
Now that we’re parents, those same patterns show up in our own inner dialogue:
“I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“I’m not patient enough.”
“I never get it right.”
We carry the weight of our own expectations and sometimes the expectations of generations before us. It’s no wonder self-love feels impossible.
Why self-acceptance is the first step
Before you can truly practice self-love, you have to accept yourself, imperfections, flaws, weaknesses, and all. Self-acceptance means acknowledging your humanity and giving yourself space to not feel “dumb” when you don’t know something, which only means there’s space for growth and learning. Self-acceptance bridges the gap between self-doubt and real self-love. It’s learning to love every part of yourself, even your struggles, your unhealed wounds, your “ugly” parts, and accepting it all, without judgment.
Ask yourself:
Do I talk to myself with empathy and compassion?
Do I believe I have to “earn” rest or joy before I deserve it?
Do I dismiss the good moments and magnify the mistakes?
If you answered yes to any of these, you’re not alone. That’s why self-acceptance is the place to start.
How to practice self-acceptance as a parent
Self-criticism might feel like it keeps you on track, but it actually steals your energy and connection. When we’re hard on ourselves, we’re more likely to react harshly to our kids, to burn out, and to pass on the same patterns we’re trying to break.
Here are some ways to begin accepting yourself:
1. Notice without judging
Pay attention to your thoughts, especially the self-critical ones. Write them down in a journal to reflect on them later instead of labeling them as “bad.” Just let them exist. Remember: judging yourself for judging yourself is normal. Let that go, too.
2. Challenge the inner critic
When that harsh voice shows up, “I’m failing,” “I’m not enough,” or “I can’t get it right,” ask yourself: Is this true, or have I heard someone say this to me before? Is this my true belief or someone else’s? (Identify if it’s your mom's or dad’s voice in your head.) If it’s not aligned to you, soften the thought.
3. Give yourself permission to be human
You don’t have to be a perfect parent to be a good one. Remind yourself: I’m learning. I’m evolving. I can make mistakes and still be a loving, connected parent.
Related Guide: 5 Steps To Connection In Parenting
Ready to practice these strategies with guidance from a Certified Coach? Book a 1:1 clarity call today.
How it change your parenting
Your kids learn how to treat themselves by watching how you treat yourself. When you give yourself grace, your children witness emotional safety in action. You model regulation. You normalize imperfection. You teach them that love doesn’t have to be earned, it’s given.
Self-love in parenting looks like:
Saying no without guilt
Letting yourself rest even when the dishes are undone
Laughing with your kids without questioning if you’re doing “enough”
Letting joy live beside the chaos
Why this matters
As a conscious parenting coach, I believe self-acceptance is the foundation for raising resilient, emotionally aware children. When we stop demanding perfection from ourselves, we show our kids that they, too, can embrace their humanity without shame.
Self-acceptance allows us to break the cycle of self-criticism and perfectionism that so many of us inherited and to raise the next generation with more compassion and confidence.
Want to break the cycle of self-criticism and raise more confident kids? Schedule a one-on-one coaching call today and start building a stronger, more compassionate foundation for your family.
Start your journey today
Parenting with self-acceptance may feel unfamiliar, but you don’t have to do it alone. Take the first step toward releasing guilt and embracing compassion by practicing these tools in your daily life. Whether you're navigating toddler tantrums or healing from your own childhood wounds, know that you have the power to reparent yourself and model something new for your children.
If you're ready to begin this journey of inner healing and conscious connection, book a coaching call today. Let's walk together toward the kind of parent and person you were always meant to be.
Read more from Sharon Medina
Sharon Medina, Conscious Parent coach
Sharon Medina is a leader in conscious parenting and self-growth coaching. Raised between Colombia and the United States, she experienced firsthand the struggles of navigating generational trauma as a first-generation immigrant. With over 10 years of experience in education, mindfulness, and trauma-informed coaching, Sharon empowers parents to heal, reconnect with the child within them, and create safe, authentic relationships with their children. She is the founder of The Connected Tribe, a coaching platform dedicated to transforming families from the inside out, and Reach Through Education, a teen mentorship program based in Houston. Her mission: Break generation trauma, come back home to your heart.
