We are not 100% gentle parents, but we do try our best to be. What I like so much about gentle parenting is the emphasis on being calm and patient. We try to keep our voices low and to the point while disciplining. Yes, there have been times that I have raised my voice...even screamed at my kids. I have even spanked my kids before. But I HATE how it makes everyone feel. I don't want my kids to remember how I screamed at them. I want them to think of me as rational, calm and peaceful but also serious and to the point. I love how Carrie, from The Parenting Passageway, says, "I am sure we all remember instances of being teenagers and not wanting to talk to our parents because they 'would freak out'. If you can be calm(er) in the years preceding these years, hopefully your teenagers will feel they can come to you with things because you will be calm and helpful and listen." This is my encouragement to speak calmly to my children. I don't scream at adults that do me wrong or disagree with me, so why should I scream at my kids. When my husband and I disagree, I don't call him names, scream at him or physically hurt him, so why would I do those things to my children when they disagree with me?

I do believe that the parenting toolbox is full of different tools. Each child is different and might need a different style than others. But I also believe that being rational, calm and peaceful should be used with each of these tools.

You know your child best. You know how they learn and understand. But I can almost guarantee that being rational, calm and peaceful will help them learn even faster.