{"id":51146,"date":"2020-06-02T14:30:17","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T14:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=51146"},"modified":"2026-03-31T08:51:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:51:51","slug":"embrace-your-dark-side-for-better-parenting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/parenting\/embrace-your-dark-side-for-better-parenting\/","title":{"rendered":"Embrace Your Dark Side for Better Parenting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Mother<\/p>\n

Have you ever noticed how your child appears to have different personalities that emerge at different times?<\/span><\/p>\n

We all have a “dark side” – our “dark force,” i.e., alter ego, shadow, subconscious- our <\/span>very own Mr. Hyde<\/span><\/a>. And, we sometimes try to control our child using the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

The key is to recognize the good side and bad side and embrace your dark side.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is how we must try to heal ourselves. By embracing your dark side, you will be able to help the children as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is one of the essential parenting skills that we need to incorporate in order to <\/span>practice positive parenting<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>The evil side and the good side<\/span><\/h2>\n

To illustrate the presence of said villain, consider your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve resolutions- “I will not stuff myself with food anymore…”<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, as the hour creeps nearer, slowly, our dark side emerges, “Just one more slice of pie a-la-mode..”. Afterward, what do you tell yourself?<\/span><\/p>\n

“You bad so and so, (add your choice cuss name here) you will never get to control this body again!”<\/span><\/p>\n

And we <\/span>resolve to be more disciplined<\/span><\/a> and restricted with ourselves. Have you ever tried this tactic with your children? It doesn’t work!<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem is, this part of ourselves laughs in the face of chastisement. You may have noticed your children mirror this aspect.<\/span><\/p>\n

The job of our shadow side (and our children) is to rebel and break the rules to keep us from being rigid and polarized from one viewpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is this offender who comes out at the most inopportune moments and foils your most stalwart plans to “be good”? When you were young someone said to you, “No, no! You mustn’t!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus was born the part of you that said, “Oh yes, I can! And you can’t stop me!” The more they pushed their way on you, the more dug in you got.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch this video to better understand the mechanics of the dark side. The video will help you to get deeper insights for you to better embrace your dark side.<\/span>